A modern-day nurse is expected to be a versatile healthcare professional competent in several spheres of practicum. In particular, a nurse should develop and demonstrate leadership qualities, contribute to the academic field, and be willing to serve both patients and colleagues. Engagement in academic work is more expected from faculty nurses since these specialists educate future generations.
Contribution to the scholarly field requires dedicating time to research and writing manuscripts, which is rarely possible in acute and long-term clinical environments. If a nurse decides to enter the academic field, they should seek advice from a mentor (Thomas et al., 2019). A mentor would teach a nurse to prioritize job responsibilities and find time for research activities, which is crucial for preventing burnout.
In regard to service, a nurse should expand the idea of servitude beyond its traditional meaning of helping patients. Modern nursing increasingly rejects the command-and-control approach that worked reasonably well for previous generations. Instead, the service-based model of workplace relationships comes into prominence (Faller & Gogek, 2019). Nurses could serve each other via mutual support and empowerment. Trust-based and welcoming workplace environment promoted by service is instrumental for professional and personal satisfaction. One can logically assume that satisfied nurses would be more effective at helping patients.
Lastly, leadership in nursing is inseparable from teamwork, which ultimately determines its nature. The work of a nursing leader revolves around influencing a group of individuals to achieve a common goal (Cummings et al., 2021). As such, a nurse who strives to become a leader should constantly work on acquiring professional knowledge and mastering new competencies. Furthermore, a nursing leader benefits from acting calm and being conscientious (Cummings et al., 2021). Consequently, aggression and impatience are personality traits that a leader must subdue if they wish to be effective in their role.
References
Cummings, G. G., Lee, S., Tate, K., Penconek, T., Micaroni, S. P., Paananen, T., & Chatterjee, G. E. (2021). The essentials of nursing leadership: A systematic review of factors and educational interventions influencing nursing leadership. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 115. Web.
Faller, M., & Gogek, J. (2019). Break from the past: Survey suggests modern leadership styles needed for millennial nurses. Nurse Leader, 17(2), 135-140. Web.
Thomas, C. M., Bantz, D. L., & McIntosh, C. E. (2019). Nurse faculty burnout and strategies to avoid it. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 14(2), 111-116. Web.