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

Remember, change is always inevitable ~ Dr. Maggie

Managing Change: An Online MSN Degree Can Help

Managing change is an essential part of nursing administration and executive nurse leadership; however, change is easier said than done.  Take the  “Tolerance for Change” assessment found at http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073381225/student_view0/chapter14/self-assessment_14_2.html  

Understanding your own “me” issues related to change can help you with fostering the change process in others. Several change theories have been developed to assist you with needed change in your workplace or in your own life.

One of my favorite change theories is Lewin’s theory of unfreezing and refreezing of behavior.  His model indicates that people need to “unfreeze” learned behavior patterns, change to the new behavior, then  refreeze the new behaviors into their daily activities.  I once read it takes 21 x of doing something before it becomes a habit, which fits nicely into Lewin’s theory of change. One of the most difficult aspects of change is taking that first step. 

Helping others change with that first step is a key skill of nursing leaders.  Getting individuals to see the reason(s) for change can promote initial behaviors toward desired change.  For example, changing a procedure such as shift change reporting processes requires a broad understanding of the need for change.  Typically, if a nursing leader can foster staff agreement regarding the change, the leader can then begin to garner ideas from their staff to implement the change.  By including the staff in brainstorming ideas to initiate change, staff will feel more ownership in the change. 

Dr. Maggie

Communication with Online MSN Degree Faculty

Often life “happens” with a personal or work-related crisis.  When in an online MSN degree program, it is important for students to have strong communication with their online teachers. Our busy lives guarantee that a crisis will occur during school at the worst possible time.  It is not a matter of “if”, but a matter of when!  Working ahead, if possible, is the best safeguard against looming catastrophes in our lives.  More importantly, when something happens which may be an obstacle to our course work, it is imperative to contact faculty as soon as possible regarding the situation. Even if you might meet a due date, ask for the extension anyway, you can always not use the extension, but at least you are covered. 

Via Email or phone, have a friend or family members call the faculty to inform them of a “personal situation” affecting the ability to do course work for a few days.  Details are not needed if you feel you’d like to keep them to yourself.  What is needed is a definitive time frame for your absence from class and when you will resume coursework so that an appropriate extension is requested.  Remember, most MSN programs will only grant incompletes if  75% of work is completed for a course.  Keep in mind that you are then  responsible for past course work to make up PLUS current course work, which may cause undue stress-so try to avoid incompletes where possible.

Communication with faculty regarding course content or assignment questions is associated with important timing of those questions.  Be sure to ask about assignment questions at least a week in advance of an assignment due date to allow for faculty response time to incorporate the information in your assignment. Email or the Q& A discussion area are the best ways to ask your questions.  If you have a complex issue or lack understanding of a majority of an assignment, setting up a conference call with faculty is the best way to handle those types of complex questions, as email may become too cumbersome.  In addition, for those of you who might be auditory learners, one phone call can be more helpful than a dozen emails when it comes to getting the answers you need.

Dr. Maggie