Nursing Leadership and Advocacy
Of utmost significance to this paper is the determination of personal strengths and weakness in four leadership areas related to the course content (personal and professional accountability, career planning, personal journey disciplines and reflective practice reference behaviors/tenets). Additionally, it seeks to determine the suitability of currently possessed personal skill set in advocacy for change in the area of work. Finally, this discussion will identify a personal goal for leadership growth and its implementation plan. By so doing, an individual is on course to the achievement of a new understanding of nursing leadership and advocacy practice that will improve his/her contribution to the profession.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Primarily, in the area of personal and professional accountability, a key personal strength is my career plan, which defines my aspiration as a nurse. Besides, my desire is to attain a higher educational status as a nurse and therefore my plan is to enroll in the next level upon completing my studies at this elementary level. Moreover, on this account, I have the ability to adhere to nursing profession ethical standards, which is another strength that I currently possess. Despite these strengths, I am not devoid of some deficiencies that are worth highlighting. A case in point of such weaknesses is my inactivity as a member of a student nurses’ professional organization. A deficiency of this kind is undesirable and needs to change since nursing has charged its professionals with the responsibility of enrolling themselves as members of professional bodies and actively contribute in its dealings.
Also, in the area of career planning, personal strengths and weaknesses are manifest. One of the realized strength is my comprehension of where I envision my future to be and what it takes to have that future. That is for sure because I am aware that work starts now if I am truly serious about transforming my desire of ascending to the status of the best nurse practitioner in the area of clinical nursing a reality. To this end, I have developed a career plan, which according to Turner, (2007) should give guidance on what one needs to do to achieve personal career goals. On the flip side of this content area, I have not been able to secure strategic positions, which will help me to make this dream true. As such, going forward, I am of the belief that I need to address this deficiency in career planning if I am to potentiate the attainment of my dream.
Furthermore, considering the area of personal journey disciplines, I have come to a realization of what are my strongholds and areas of improvement. For instance, my strengths include but limited to reliance on consultation with others during decision-making and taking a lead role of venturing in new techniques through my learning by doing philosophy. With such habits, I have consistently managed to improve my teamwork capabilities and take part in new in new activities devoid of fear of making errors, which are assets that one cannot overlook. As for the avenues of improvement in this content area, I am a believer that my practice of reflection has to improve significantly. That is for sure given my failure to do so in most days. Such a failure is not consistent with Paget, (2008) whose assessment of the value of reflection in nursing is that it helps individuals to acquire new knowledge and better their practice daily. Based on this evaluation, there is a need for improvement in this area.
As for the area of reflective practice reference behaviors/tenets, personal strengths entail being truthful and cultural-sensitive, aspiration for learning every day and continuously seeking to determine my potential. Such is the case given that during my lifetime, I have always considered all human beings as equal regardless of the culture. Notwithstanding, I have made it my business to learn something new that adds value to my life on a daily basis. Moreover, my persona does not allow shying away from new, unfamiliar procedures. That is for sure since my inherent belief is that one should not fear to make mistakes when learning about something new. Despite these strengths, this area is not devoid of certain weaknesses. A befitting example is the failure to rely on reflective practice to inform decisions made. Such is the case given that many days pass by without taking stock of the activities undertaken. Such a deficiency is detrimental to leadership growth and thus making it an urgent for addressing.
Leadership Skills and Advocacy
Based on my self-evaluation, my current leadership skills set comprises of problem-solving and teamwork skills. Such skills are of the essence for the assumption of the advocacy role, which is necessary for a leader intending to effect changes in his/her area of work. Similarly, in this case, my problem-solving skills will come in handy in the advocacy given that problem identification and seeking for ways to solve them is central to the advocacy process (Tomajan, 2012). Going by this illustration, the problem-solving skill that I possess is an asset that will enhance my chances of identifying challenging areas that require change and strategies for advocating for the change.
Furthermore, the teamwork skills are also fundamental in the advocacy for change in the various areas of work. According to Tomajan, (2012) an individual must solicit for support among his/her colleagues if a change proposal is to be successful within the targeted area. Considering this aspect, my teamwork capability will potentiate the chances of implementing change within the field of influence.
Personal Goal for Leadership Growth and Implementation Plan
Going by the set goals, my personal goal for leadership growth is to become a nurse practitioner who is at the peak of the nursing profession where I can contribute to the policy formulation proceedings. Central to this goal is my desire to initiate changes from the lead role rather than waiting for them to occur.
Of utmost significance to the achievement of this goal is an implementation plan whose practical details are worth noting. Engaging in a lifelong education process is the first step for my implementation plan. Turner, (2007) is of the opinion that engaging a continuous learning process is vital in nursing because it enables one to keep abreast of current issues of the profession. Notwithstanding, taking part in the activities of the professional organizations is also a fundamental step for achievement of this plan. With this strategy, my leadership skills such as teamwork will improve for the better.
Conclusion
Concisely, this discussion aimed at determining personal strengths and weakness in four leadership areas related to the course content (personal and professional accountability, career planning, personal journey disciplines and reflective practice reference behaviors/tenets). Also, it focused on establishing how I can use personal leadership skills to implement change as well as my leadership growth goal and its implementation plan. Based on this discussion, it is apparent that there is a need for taking part in leadership activities and engaging in a lifelong educational process if the personal leadership target is to become attainable. However, in the absence of such, this aspiration will just remain being a dream and not a reality.
References
Tomajan, K., (2012). Advocating for nurses and nursing. Online journal of issues in nursing, 17(1), A1.
Paget, T. (2008).Reflective practice and clinical outcomes: practitioners’ views on how reflective practice has influenced their clinical practice.Journal of Clinical Nursing, 10(2), pp.204-214.
Turner, S. O. (2007). The nursing career planning guide. Sudbury, Mass. ; Toronto: Jones and Bartlett.
Write a reflection of 750-1,000 words in which you identify your strengths and weaknesses related to the four content areas below:
1.Personal and professional accountability
2.Career planning
3.Personal journey disciplines
4.Reflective practice reference behaviors/tenets
Discuss how you will use your current leadership skill set to advocate for change in your workplace.
Identify one personal goal for your leadership growth and discuss your implementation plan to achieve that goal.
