CNE Article
Educating Nurses for Leadership Roles

The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing    Vol. 35  No. 5    September/October 2004

By Barbara R. Heller, EdD, RN, FAAN; Karen Drenkard, RN, MSN, CNAA; Mary Beth Esposito-Herr, PhD, RN; Carol Romano, PhD, RN, BC, CNAA, FAAN; Sally Tom, EDM, CNM, FACNM; Nancy Valentine, RN, MSN, MPH, PhD, FAAN

ABSTRACT

As a result of the growing shortage of nurses and the dramatically changing role of the front-line nurse manager, leadership education for nurses is of critical importance. The purpose of the project described in this article was to design, implement, and evaluate an innovative model of nursing leadership development for students enrolled in registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing or registered nurse to master of science in nursing programs. A guided “action-learning” course was designed that focused on both core knowledge and experiential learning. The course was developed with the assistance of an advisory panel of prominent nurse leaders with expertise in administration, health policy, informatics, and nursing education. The prototype course was offered for the first time as an elective in Spring 2003. Evaluation data indicated that the course was considered valuable by students and with modifications suggested by students, faculty, and advisory panel members, the course would be offered regularly as part of the curriculum. Recommendations also included adapting course content to a continuing education format.

AUTHORS

Dr. Heller is Executive Director, Center for Health Workforce Development and Rauschenbach Distinguished Professor of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Drenkard is Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia. Dr. Esposito-Herr is Vice President, Patient Care Services, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Romano is Deputy Chief, Department of Clinical Research, Informatic Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Columbia, Maryland. Ms. Tom is Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Valentine is Vice President, National Nursing Executive, Cigna Health Care, Hartford, Connecticut.

This project was supported by a grant from the Helene Fuld Health Trust.

Address correspondence to Barbara R. Heller, EdD, RN, FAAN, Center for Health Workforce Development, University of Maryland, 515 W. Lombard St., Suite 479, Baltimore, MD 21201.