NAC Board Leadership PreparationPrepared by Linda Kay Walline Ph.D. RN

Nursing as a Profession• Largest segment of the

healthcare workers• Majority of time spent in direct

patient care• Top profession for public trust

(Gallup)• Influence patient flow, supplies

and equipment purchases, safety measures and physician/ patient satisfaction

• Influence quality measures (CMS, 2008) and HCAHP Scores

Perceptions Must ChangeNurses are perceived as not playing a substantial leadership role in Health Care.

Board Positions Held

Nurses (3-6%)Physicians (20-23%)Other

Why?• Perception that nurses do not have

leadership skills• Lack of understanding of nurses’

role in care quality• Concern that nurses will lack holistic

approach & will focus only on nursing/employee view

• Gender bias; board members pick replacements with similar backgrounds to their own (Pribil, 2009)

Nurses Contributions are UnrecognizedNurses can & do Influence:

89%Increase in Quality of Care

Reduction of Medical Error

90%Promotion of Wellness & Preventative Care

86%84%

Improvement of Healthcare Efficiency & Reduction of Costs

Nurses should have more input and impact in planning, policy development, and management (Khoury, et al. 2011)

2011 IOM Recommendation Nurses Have Skill Sets That Fit:

– Close Proximity to Patients

– Scientific Understanding of Care Processes Across Continuum

– Inter-professional Collaborative Partnerships

– Lead Improvement & Redesign of the Healthcare System (IOM, 2011).”

Nurses be represented on:- Boards- Executive Management Teams - Other Key Leadership Positions

Nurses Need to “Lean In”

“….women (nurses) hold themselves back in ways both big & small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, & by pulling back when we should be leaning in.”

“…Women (nurses) need to learn to keep their hands up, because when they lower them, even managers (board members seeking replacements) with the best intentions might not notice…”

“Having a Voice”

Nurses are necessary in discussions on quality and costs.

• ACA - more than access & increased coverage:• Improve health & healthcare• Bend cost curve

• Let go of entrenched thinking /assumptions about professional roles• Inter-Professional Collaboration

Nurses Contributions to Boards• Innovative solutions to improve safety/quality

• Understand importance of collaboration

• Great listening/interview skills; ability to ask appropriate questions

• Understand & respect wide range of professional roles & skills required for patient care

• Effective team member

• Understand honesty, transparency, & integrity

• Patient advocate

• Awareness of connection between community & healthcare

What Board Service Brings to Nurses

• Expands leadership skills and advances their capabilities and knowledge

• Enhances professional networking opportunities

Board Service, “Connects you to the world,” by giving you new perspectives and making you proud to be a nurse

Becoming “Board Ready”• Seek increased levels of responsibility at work or

volunteer roles• Seek broad operational knowledge & experience to

appreciate complexity of organizational interaction• Understand expectations & compatibilities of board you

are exploring

View video - Nurse Leaders in the Boardroom: The Skills You need To Be Successful on a Board (Center to Champion Nursing in America and RWJF) http://campaignforaction.org/webinar/nurse-leaders-boardroom-skills-you-need-be-successful-board

Identify Mentors

Experienced leaders need to step forward to become mentors and guides by encouraging newer nurses to develop expertise and leadership skills as well as by offering suggestions on how to climb the ladder of leadership.

Nurses in the Boardroom Summary

1• Create Personal Strategic Plan

2• Be Passionate

3• Start Locally

4• Build Connections

5• Educate Self & Recognize Importance of Life-Long Learning

References• Hassmiller, S.B. (2011). Nursing leadership from bedside to

boardroom commentary. JONA, 41 (7/8), 306-308.• Hassmiller, S. (2013). Taking the first steps to serving on a board.

Colorado Nurse, 113(1), 1-8.• Hassmiller, S. and Combs, J. (2012). Journal of Healthcare

Management, 57 (1), 8-11.• Khoury, C.M. and Blizzard, R. (2011). Nursing leadership from bedside

to boardroom: A Gallup national survey of opinion leaders. JONA, 41 (7/8), 299-305.

• Pribil, L. (2009). Engaging Nurses in Governing Hospital and Health Systems. Journal of Nursing Care Quality 24(1):5-9.

• Sandberg, S. (2013). Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.