Servant Leadership and the Executive Nurse Leader/Nursing Administration Online MSN Degree

Servant leaders are a special type of leader due to the self-sacrificing nature of servant leadership.  Servant leaders place the priorities of others and their organization ahead of or at least aligned with their own priorities.  Servant leaders progress toward a common goal by creating a positive environment that empowers individuals and promotes professional as well as personal growth.  The focus of Servant Leadership is on transparency with sharing information, building and communicating a common vision, and learning from mistakes.  The servant leader encourages creative input from staff, and looks beyond the status quo. Greenleaf (1991) was one of the first to coin the phrase “servant leader” .  He defined the characteristics of a servant leader to include:

Self-aware

Persuasive

Foresight

Stewardship

Commitment to Growth of People

Servant leaders are some of the most successful leaders due to the traits and behaviors listed above.

"Servant-leadership is all about making the goals clear and then rolling your sleeves up and doing whatever it takes to help people win. In that situation, they don't work for you, you work for them." ~ Ken Blanchard in "Servant Leadership" The Management Forum volume 4 number 3.

Greenleaf, R.K. (1991). The servant as leader. Indianapolis: Robert K. Greenleaf Center. Retrieved from: https://greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/

Dr.  Maggie

Conflict Management: Applying Knowledge from your Online MSN degree

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. Anytime two or more people come together, they will eventually disagree about something. While some conflict can be healthy, it is often an indication that there is something wrong. The good news about conflict is that it is usually based on "caring". The more someone defends their point of view in an argument, the more they care. But if conflict is allowed to fester and grow without a resolution or conflict management, it can lead to serious problems such as threats and even physical violence. Difficult situations can be dealt with in a calm and unemotional way, leading to compromise and collaboration.

Conflict management is a skill that can be practiced and refined in a master’s of science in nursing program, especially with the group work which is required in either an online or face to face program.I recommend some reading about conflict management and doing some self discovery about your own conflict management styles. Heim, P. & Murphy, S. (2001). In the company of women: Indirect aggression among women: Why we hurt each other and how to stop. New York, NY: Putnam.



If you would like, complete the Conflict Resolution Questionnaire at the website: http://academic.engr.arizona.edu/vjohnson/ConflictManagementQuestionnaire/ConflictManagementQuestionnaire.asp

Dr. Maggie

Spring Break

Dr. Maggie is off on Spring Break.  Hope the sun is shining where you are!

CNL and EL Certification Exam Preparation

Whether your masters of science degree in nursing has a concentration in Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Administration/Executive Nurse Leader or Nurse Educator, all three of these areas of advanced practice nursing specialty have certification exams available.   A few key resources are listed for those of you interested in becoming certified in your specialty area of nursing.  Below are the three websites with exam information to guide you. In addition to completing a Masters Degree in Nursing Science, either online or on campus, preparing for a certification exam is crucial. Some certifications require a certain level of documented experience in the specialty area, so be sure to validate if your specialty requires experience prior to applying for the exam.  In fact, verify all requirements for eligibility prior to registering for a certification exam.

1. American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) is the certifying organization for Executive Nurse Leaders/Nursing Administrators.
http://www.aone.org/resources/certification/about_certifications.shtml

2. The National League for Nursing (NLN) is the certifying organization for Nurse Educators.
http://www.nln.org/certification/handbook/cne.pdf

3. American Association of Colleges of Nursing is the certifying organization for Clinical Nurse Leaders
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/cnl/cnl-certification/pdf/ExamHndbk.pdf

Certification examinations validate the acquisition of knowledge and core competencies in an area of nursing.  Passing the certification exam also verifies your knowledge and skills in that area of nursing. Certification is an excellent way to ask for a raise in a current position, or as a pathway to promotion within your current organization.

Dr. Maggie