DNP Essentials VIII

Advanced Nursing Practice

Empathic Reflection Assignment - I have chosen to use this exemplar because it aligns with the development and sustenance of therapeutic relationships with patients and professionals. It is foundational to the practice of advanced nursing practice.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:va6c2:787d2700-7ead-4b89-97ea-2a69f86a89e1

The following excerpt from the Executive Leadership course aligns with the need to guide, mentor, and support other nurses to achieve excellence:

What do you think are your strengths in developing people as a collaborative leader?

Teaching, coaching, and mentoring are all passions I take seriously daily. These are attributes for which I am frequently thanked and complimented. They are indeed strengths. One of my potential areas of opportunities (because I look for these even when I am good at something) is offering mentorship to those who may not be inclined to ask. One of my direct reports recently shared her belief that I should support those who most need it which aligns with situational leadership. I realized that though I have offered to everyone my mentorship, the perception may be that I only give sufficient time and attention to those who seek it out. As a result, I will begin to ask during 1:1 meetings.

What do you think are your most important areas for improvement in developing people?

One area of opportunity for me is to create opportunities for my direct reports to assess their leadership capabilities. This is nuanced because I almost always say yes to ideas for passion projects within Supportive Medicine and work with direct reports to figure out how. Despite these opportunities to lead and develop, this does not constitute a formal assessment of their strengths and weaknesses in the way I am currently benefitting from so I will begin to offer this opportunity.

Another opportunity is for me to ask people I mentor to define their expectations and create a mutually agreed upon coaching plan. Recently, I asked my CNO if I could shadow her this summer to learn more about leadership. She quipped that I would be seated beside her for a series of Zoom meetings then asked, “what about leadership would you like to learn?” Budgets are an opportunity for growth for me and we agreed that I would sit in on “budget season related meetings.” This was an example that validated my need to identify expectations my mentees have for me which will lead to learning opportunities that are more focused and efficient.