Leadership structures to empower professional development

19^th Global Nursing Education Conference

April 27-28, 2017 Las Vegas, USA

Althea L Mighten

NYU Langone Medical Center, USA

Keynote: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

There is a distinct and proven link between nursing leadership, nurse development and patient outcomes. Creating structures that empowers the nurses to engage and develop professionally is essential for higher quality patient care and for levels of certification. One empowering structure developed was the shared governance councils system. These councils recognized the professional responsibility of the registered nurse to achieve highest level of competency that was exemplified by certification. The recruitment and retention council utilized education fairs to promote certification. Other structure developed was recognition strategies that included wall plaques on each unit of those certified, awards during nurse�s week and involvement in the professional practice program, and financial incentives. Certification rate is interwoven into the structures of the professional practice model (shared decision making, reward and recognition, professional relationships, and care delivery). As part of the nursing strategic plan, a structural standard was created to support and encourage culture of excellence by having a nurse specialty certification. This included monetary incentives and reward recognition program including professional practice program or clinical ladder. The relationship between structural empowerment and certification within the shared governance structure has been effective in raising certification rates to 46.6%, which represents a 50% increase in six years. 28.8% of those who are certified have more than one certification in nursing specialty. An exemplar was received on initial Magnet designation and the 2014 NDNQI RN satisfaction survey for professional development was 67.5% and professional status was 69.6%, both were above the mean.

Biography :

Althea Mighten holds a Doctorate in Education from NOVA Southeastern University and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from New York University. Her clinical background incorporates medical/surgical, emergency medicine, orthopedic and psychiatric mental health nursing. She has served as faculty at Medgar Evers College/School of Nursing (Brooklyn) and at SUNY Downstate College of Nursing (Brooklyn). She is currently the Director of Nursing Education/Recruitment and Coordinator for Professional Practice in Nursing. Her additional expertise lies in the areas of adult learning, professional practice, evidence-based practice and quality improvement.

Email: Althea.Mighten@nyumc.org