THE BIG PICTURE

There’s an old saying, "It’s important to know what you don’t know."  That could not be more true for today’s health care organizations.  What don’t we know?  Where will our next leaders come from?  All too often we hire from outside of our organization because we do not know about the talent that lies within.  In doing so, we disenfranchise loyal employees who are a known cultural fit and suffer the costs of replacing them and knowledge drain on the organization.

In this edition of Critical Communication we will focus on tools and techniques for identifying and retaining the future leaders of our organizations.  The Critical Portfolio™ and Critical Evaluator™, which we cover in more detail later in this edition, are two such tools.  In addition, we are honored to welcome our guest columnist for this edition, Karen H. Morin, DSN, RN, Professor, Director of Education Programs, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of Nursing; President-Elect, The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International 2007 - 2008.  Dr. Morin will share some of her vast experience in identifying and developing future nursing leaders.

I sincerely hope that you find this edition of Critical Communication useful and pass it on.

Guest Columnist: Karen Helen Morin, RN, DSN President-Elect, Sigma Theta Tau International

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & SUCCESSION PLANNING

While we frequently take leadership for granted, and often think that leaders simply surface when needed, there really is a need to undertake leadership development in a thoughtful and organized manner.  Doing so positions leadership development on the radar screen of leaders in all arenas:  health care, education, research, and regulation.  The reality is that if deliberate actions are not taken to foster leadership development in those with whom we interact, or in those, we, as leaders, determine have leadership abilities, then leadership in our institutions will flounder.  What a travesty that would be, given the critical role that the profession needs to exert in all areas of practice!

Such an omission becomes even more telling when one considers what leaders in the 21^st century will need to do.  Porter-O’Grady and Malloch (2003) indicate that leaders will need to be able to warn staff about changing priorities, be personally engaged in the change process, and create a safe environment, to name but a few major tasks.

How, then, can leaders foster the development of the future generation of leaders?  All leaders should consider the legacy they wish to leave. Kouzes and Posner (2006) offer four areas by which leaders leave a legacy and help develop future leaders: significance, relationships, aspirations, and courage. 

Consequently, as those of us in leadership positions reflect on these areas, we can begin to identify best practices for succession planning and leadership development. 

Ultimately, each leader is challenged to undertake deliberate succession planning. How well we respond to the challenge will be reflected in the continuing supply of well-versed new leaders. I know we are up to the challenge!

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Critical Portfolio™ and Critical Evaluator™

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: The Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library

The Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library features the Registry of Nursing Research, a complimentary, on-line, searchable database that helps nurses answer questions about current approaches on patient care - just what nurses need to practice evidence-based nursing.

Offered through the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, this robust resource helps all nurses advance patient care.  With access to more than 32,000 abstracts submitted by individuals and nursing organizations from around the world, users have access to conference presentations, dissertations, Doctorate in Nursing Practice clinical projects and scientific research studies.  Primary investigators can be contacted for more information about how to obtain full-text versions of their study.

Now, in collaboration with the American Nurses Credentialing Center and Decision Critical, nurses can access through the library more than 120 abstracts about Practice Innovations at MAGNET™ - recognized health care organizations.

Users of Critical Portfolio have quick access to the library with a direct link from their dashboard.  This quick access makes it possible for nurses to submit studies for inclusion in the library as well as keep their portfolios up-to-date.

The Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library is the realization of the honor society’s goal to offer nurses, in all roles around the globe, on-line access to reliable nursing information that can be easily utilized and shared.

To find and share valuable nursing resources on-line, visit the library at http://www.nursinglibrary.org/.