If you are a nurse, you can call yourself a leader … each
one of you! Whether you are a student nurse, a staff nurse, a
nurse manager or currently serving at the executive level, you
are a leader. You educate patients and families, and you advocate
on their behalf. You collaborate and negotiate with doctors and
pharmacists and administrators. You perform your tasks with precision.
You provide compassion at every turn. You touch lives and sometimes
even save lives. You have one of the most important jobs in the
world. In all that you do, however, are you the best leader you
can be?
Opportunities exist to sharpen the many skills nurses need to
be better leaders. The tough parts are to know where to find these
opportunities and to have the drive to pursue the challenge of
these opportunities. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the United
States’ largest philanthropy dedicated exclusively to improving
health and health care, is devoting substantial resources to find
ways to make hospital nurses’ jobs more effective and more
satisfying, and to address nursing issues more broadly by fostering
nurse leadership at all levels. We believe these changes will
help retain experienced nurses, alleviating the nursing shortage
affecting so many U.S. communities and improving the overall quality
of patient care and outcomes. As part of our efforts, we have
researched a list of nurse leadership programs (see chart) that
may be of interest to you.
You owe it to yourself—and to your patients—to hone
your skills to a higher level. You can play a role in creating
the safest and best care around. To do so, however, you must keep
increasing your knowledge level, expanding your decision-making
capabilities and improving your skills in all areas, including
clinical and administrative. Providing hands-on care for 24 hours
a day, seven days a week has placed nurses in the unique position
of gaining insights that can benefit the highest levels of leadership
in hospitals. Nurses can offer substantive ideas about how care
can be improved, how care environments might be safer, how the
continuum of care might be smoother, how to better educate the
next generation of students and, in general, how to create a better
health care system for all.
To make use of their insights about improving care, nurses need
to have their voices heard. Whether on the boards of health care
organizations, serving as unit managers or teaching in schools
of nursing, nurses must first develop skills to communicate their
visions. Second, to turn vision into action, they must learn to
plan strategically. It takes negotiation, team-building skills,
appreciation for measurement and evidence-based care, and an understanding
of the politics and policies behind creating change. Leadership
also calls for a drive to mentor and empower others.
Pathways to leadership are diverse. For many, it is important
to seek higher levels of education, such as the BSN, MSN and PhD.
For some, it is important to take advantage of classes and seminars
at work or become certified in a specialty area. Finally, for
others, it is important to reach way beyond their workplace and
even their local institutions of higher education and apply for
one of the numerous leadership opportunities that are available
nationwide.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s matrix of leadership
opportunities provides nurses at all levels a way to make a difference
in their own lives, the lives of their patients and the health
care system at large. The opportunities exist; nurses just need
to step forward to take advantage of them. It is nurses’
time to lead—with confidence and the requisite skills. Review
the matrix beginning on the next page to determine what might
be right for you. RNL
| Leadership
Development Opportunities |
|
Paid
and/or Subsidized Programs |
| Program |
Program
Description |
Eligibility
and Special Notes |
| California
HealthCare Foundation Health
Care Leadership Program
Center for Health Care Professions
San Francisco, CA; (415) 476-7081
http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/
futureleaders |
2 years; for clinicians
interested in becoming health care system leaders.
Tuition and lodging are covered. |
Applicants must live
and work in California. |
| The Epidemic
Intelligence
Service Program
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, GA; (888) 496-8347
http://www.cdc.gov/eis/ |
2 years; for health
care professionals seeking epidemiologic training related
to public health.
Qualifications and experience influence
salary. |
Participants must move
to an assigned national or international site. |
| George W.
Merck Fellowship Program
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Boston, MA; (617) 301-4800
http://www.ihi.org |
1 year; for health
care organizations and their nominees who are committed
to advancing quality improvement and practice.
Stipend included. |
Participants must
move to the Boston area and have a sponsoring organization. |
| Clinical Research
Post-Doctoral
Fellowship
ANA
Silver Spring, MD; (301) 628-5247
http://www.ana.org/emfp/
fellowships/post.htm |
1 year; intended to
promote clinical workforce diversity and expertise in substance
abuse and mental health disorders.
Stipend based on years of service. |
Applicants must be
from minority groups. |
| Clinical Research
Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
ANA
Silver Spring, MD; (301) 628-5247
http://www.ana.org/emfp/fellowships/
pre.htm |
3–5 years; for
master’s-level nurses pursuing doctorate on minority
mental health and substance abuse.
Annual stipend and tuition assistance. |
Applicants must be
from minority groups. |
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Health Policy Fellowships
Institute of Medicine
Washington, DC; (202) 334-1506
http://www.iom.edu/rwj |
3 years; for mid-career health professionals
in academic or community settings to acquire knowledge in
health policy.
Stipend included. |
Participants must move to the Washington,
D.C., area. |
|
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Executive Nurse Fellows Program
Center for the Health Professions
San Francisco, CA; (415) 502-6451
http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Program
/rwj/ |
3 years; for senior
executive nurses seeking the experience and skills necessary
to be leaders in the health care system.
Each fellow’s individual learning
activities are supported by a leadership development account.
Employers must provide matching funds. |
Participants remain
in their jobs while completing the fellowship. |
Johnson & Johnson–
Wharton Fellows Program
in Management for
Nurse Executives
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA; (215) 573-3804
http://www.executivefellows.net |
3 weeks; management and leadership education
for senior nurse executives.
Tuition, special events, and most meals
are covered by a Johnson & Johnson stipend. |
Applicants must be chief nursing officers;
candidates’ CEOs/COOs must attend the Executive Forum
at the conclusion of the program. |
|
IOM/ANF/AAN Scholar in Residence
Program
Institute of Medicine,
American Nurses
Foundation, American Academy of Nursing
Washington, DC; (414) 287-0289
http://www.aannet.org/opportunities/
scholarinresidence/iom_anf_aan.asp |
1 year; for nurse leaders interested
in leadership opportunities in health policy.
Each fellow receives $50,000 and IOM orientation costs.
|
Applicants must be members of AAN and/or
IOM. Applications must include a statement of full-time
commitment to the program. |
|
|
| Program |
Program Description |
Eligibility and Special Notes |
|
African-American Leadership Program
Center for Creative Leadership
Greensboro, NC; (336) 545-2810
http://www.ccl.org/
leadership/programs/
AALPOverview.aspx?pageId=782 |
5 days; for mid- to senior-level
African-American managers wanting to explore career issues.
$6,200, including ground
transportation to and from center, materials, most meals. |
Applicants must be African Americans
in manager positions. |
|
Women’s Leadership Program
Center for Creative Leadership
Greensboro, NC, & San Diego,
CA
(336) 545-2810
http://www.ccl.org/
leadership/programs/
WLPOverview.aspx?pageId=846 |
5 days; for mid- to senior-level
female managers seeking to examine leadership and work experiences.
$6,200, including ground transportation
to center, program materials, and most meals. |
Applicants may choose 1 of 2 sites. |
|
Aspiring Nurse Leaders II
The American Organization of Nurse Executives
Scottsdale, AZ
http://www.aone.org/aone/
edandcareer/
conferences_seminars.html |
4 days; for staff nurses seeking to enhance
leadership skills.
$545 tuition for AONE members; $595 for
non-members. Room Rate: $179 |
$50 discount for early registration. |
|
Leadership Development Program
Center for Creative Leadership
Multiple sites; (336) 545-2810
http://www.ccl.org/leadership/programs/
LDPOverview.aspx?pageId=820 |
5 days; for mid- to senior-level managers
who want to strengthen leadership skills.
Prices vary depending on site and dates. |
|
|
Chiron Mentoring Program
Sigma Theta Tau International
Indianapolis, IN; (317) 634-8171
http://www.nursingsociety.org/
programs/chiron.html |
1 year; for members of Sigma Theta Tau
International to build leadership and mentoring skills.
$650 fee for mentees |
Applicants may participate as mentors
or mentees. |
|
OMADA Board Leadership
Development Program
Sigma Theta Tau International
Indianapolis, IN; (317) 634-8171
http://www.nursingsociety.org/
programs/omada_main.html |
2 years; for nurses interested in serving
on national and international boards.
$895 fee for mentees. |
Participants must be members of Sigma
Theta Tau International. |
|
Cultural Competence Leadership
Fellowship
Health Research and Educational Trust/
American Hospital Association
Chicago, IL; (312) 422-2610
http://www.hret.org/hret/
about/cclf.html |
1 year; for health care leaders interested
in issues surrounding care of racial and ethnic minorities
and how their institutions can better respond to community
health needs.
Teams pay $16,000 per fellow. Individuals
pay $18,000 per fellow. Full and partial scholarships may
be available. Though individuals are encouraged to apply,
preference will be given to teams. |
A letter of support is required from
applicant’s organization. |
|
Executive Development Program
The Wharton School
Philadelphia, PA; (800) 255-3932,
ext. 1408
http://executiveeducation.wharton.
upenn.edu/course.
cfm?Program=EDP#315 |
2 weeks; for managers seeking the skills
necessary to take on leadership roles within their organizations.
$19,500 tuition fee. |
Class size is limited; apply at least
4 months before session. |
|
MLE: Institute for Management
and Leadership Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Cambridge, MA; (800) 545-1849
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe/
highered/index.html |
2 weeks; for senior academic administrators
to learn new approaches to teaching and learning.
$5,500 tuition fee, which includes room,
most meals and all instructional materials. |
Applicants must document employer support
via financial subsidy. |
Management Development Program
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Cambridge, MA; (800) 545-1849
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe/
highered/index.html |
2 weeks; for professionals in mid-level
management positions.
$5,500 tuition fee includes room, most
meals and all instructional materials. Some financial aid
is available. |
Participants are housed on Harvard’s
campus. |
|
Nurse Manager Boot Camp
Cross Country University
Boca Raton, FL; (888) 683-4277
http://www.crosscountryeducation.
com/cce/conferences/
bootcamp/index.jsp |
5 days; an intensive training and skill-building
course.
$2,995 per individual. Discounts offered
to groups of enrollees. |
Training can be arranged at participant’s
facility. |
Nurse in Washington Internship
Nursing Organizations Alliance
Washington, DC; (859) 514-9157
http://www.nursing-alliance.org/
niwi.cfm |
5 days; for nurses seeking to influence
health care through legislative and regulatory processes.
Nursing Organizations Alliance members
pay $675. Non-members pay $775.
National Student Nurses’ Association
members pay $450. Non-members pay $550.
*These prices apply to those who register
before Jan. 27, 2006. |
Housing costs are $239 for single and
$264 for double, for reservations made before 2/8/06. |
|
Strategic Leadership for Women
Simmons Graduate School of Management
Boston, MA; (617) 521-3843
http://www.simmons.edu/som/execed/
programs/strategic/index.shtml
|
5 days; for women professionals seeking
skills necessary to become influential leaders in their
organizations.
$5,400 fee covers room, board and instructional
materials. |
Partial scholarships are available for
participants from the nonprofit sector. |
2006-07 Nursing Leadership Academy:
Nurses Investing in Maternal-Child Health
Sigma Theta Tau, Johnson & Johnson
Pediatric Institute, L.L.C.
Indianapolis, IN
(888) 634-7575 (US/Canada)
http://www.nursingsociety.org/
programs/mch.html |
18 months; for all maternal-child health
nurses whose practice in service, administration, education
or research includes the health of mothers and children.
$300 registration fee covers mentee/mentor
registration.
Workshops, hotel rooms and meals will be
provided at no cost to participants. |
Participants in this program work in
mentee/mentor pairs at applicant’s institution. International
nurses are encouraged to apply and should call 1-317-634-7575
for more information. |
|
Washington Health Policy Institute
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA; (703) 993-1959
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/
chpre/policyinstitute/home_whpi.html |
5 days; for health care professionals,
health organization staff, association staff, health scholars,
policy scholars, educators, policy analysts, congressional
staff, interest group members and those interested in learning
about how health policy is made.
$900–$1,200 fee. |
Participants can earn graduate credits
or continuing education units.
|
