Master of Science in Nursing: The Role in Leadership and Supervision

Topic: Nursing
Words: 914 Pages: 3

Introduction

Today, many students choose a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as their educational goal to take advanced leadership positions in the future. However, it is not enough for them to develop a number of clinical skills and understand the major healthcare concepts. There are great possibilities to become clinical nurse leaders, executives, and administrators in local facilities or abroad. Thus, MSN nurses should be ready to demonstrate their best qualities in mentoring other employees in the nursing field. Among the existing MSN roles, I choose supervising and leading nurse staff. One of the main characteristics of the future of nursing and health care is digitalization, and MSN nurses should be ready to advance the nursing profession in terms of interaction and care in a digital world (Booth et al., 2021). Supervision is an important MSN role that requires a thorough analysis of its future vision, the impact on current healthcare trends, change management strategies, and leadership qualities and tools for future needs and challenges.

Future Vision of Role

Talking about the future of nursing and health care, most people believe in the power of technological progress and the implementation of various digital devices to speed up care processes and communication. However, in this stream of new ideas, it is easy to forget the role of humans, who have to complete a number of functions and responsibilities, including patient care and support, physical examinations, and communication. The MSN role of supervising and leading the staff is critical because it determines how the whole team should work and cooperate. In the future, the application of technologically advanced devices is inevitable, and the task of an MSN nurse is to lead other nurses in using sensors, assistive technologies, and robotics for various purposes (Huter et al., 2020). At the same time, nurses must understand that all their clients are real people with personal needs and expectations. MSN supervision is important in developing trustful and honest relationships between patients and nurses.

Change Management

The promotion of appropriate change management strategies turns out to be an obligatory step in the MSN nurse’s work. According to Rivaz et al. (2021), most MSN programs focus on developing theoretical knowledge at the expense of strengthening practical skills. Therefore, the idea of MSN supervision of other nurses is based on the necessity to find a practical application of their theoretical knowledge and address the future vision of digitalization in communication. A change management process is usually complex and consists of several properly distributed strategies. To lead and supervise successfully during change, the MSN should inform a team about change, share a vision, follow a plan, and ask for feedback to make further adjustments. There are several ways to implement change in nursing: Lewin’s three-step model and Kotter’s eight-step model (Drake, 2020). These strategies will help examine a constantly developing healthcare system and define how MSN nurses can guide their followers.

Leadership Qualities

An MSN nurse is an evident leader in a team, and the supervising role requires the use of the best leadership qualities. At this moment, I think that I am good at communication, critical thinking, and time management. I am ready to listen to other people’s opinions, analyze information, and make decisions that are appropriate for a particular situation. I also know that nurses should work in a certain order and establish their tasks in a timely manner. My role is to follow that all work is properly done and corresponds to the initial instructions and guidelines. However, this list of leadership skills is not full, and I have to continue my education and understanding of nurse leadership. To complete the chosen role, I must succeed in developing such qualities as my dedication to excellence, emotional intelligence, and respect. I think good leaders cannot neglect these aspects because they help to strengthen interpersonal relationships and maintain them within the required professional limits.

Leadership Tools

Applying leadership tools for developing my leadership skills is a vital step in my professional growth. There are many interesting ideas for achieving the desired goals and becoming the best leader and supervisor for other nurses. My plan will include taking several self-assessment tests, analyzing the results, asking for feedback, and reading educative literature. The tests effectively recognize my weak and strong aspects as a leader. Sometimes, it is hard for a person to admit personal problems, and tests reveal areas for improvement. Thus, the analysis of the results should be thorough in underlining the current state of affairs. Communication with a team is also necessary because their feedback shows what I do right and wrong and what expectations my followers might impose. Finally, I cannot create interventions on my own, and my decision to address some professional opinions is rational. I will read credible books and journals to learn what recommendations are given to modern leaders. My leadership skills will be enough to cover the future needs and challenges of nursing when digital communication becomes inevitable and people want to maintain their interpersonal relationships and direct patient care.

Conclusion

In general, the analysis of the chosen MSN role of supervision and leadership proves the necessity to take multiple steps to address the future needs of professional nursing. Despite evident technological progress and the application of assistive devices, nurses should always remember to communicate and strengthen real-life relationships with patients and colleagues. My responsibility as an MSN leader is to identify the needs of my team and choose the most effective ways to fulfill them.

References

Booth, R. G., Strudwick, G., McBride, S., O’Connor, S., & López, A. L. S. (2021). How the nursing profession should adapt for a digital future. BMJ, 373. Web.

Drake, K. (2020). Change is inevitable. Nursing Management, 51(7), 56. Web.

Huter, K., Krick, T., Domhoff, D., Seibert, K., Wolf-Ostermann, K., & Rothgang, H. (2020). Effectiveness of digital technologies to support nursing care: Results of a scoping review. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 13, 1905-1926. Web.

Rivaz, M., Shokrollahi, P., Setoodegan, E., & Sharif, F. (2021). Exploring the necessity of establishing a doctor of nursing practice program from experts’ views: A qualitative study. BMC Medical Education, 21(1). Web.