How do nursing leaders affect nursing practice?
Nursing leaders can have a big impact on nursing practice. Nurses who look up to them and admire them try to emulate them and their nursing style, which influences how nurses practice. This usually takes place on a smaller scale with only a few nurses changing their methods here and there. However, nurses can also impact nursing practice on a larger scale if they work to make changes in nursing practice. Some nurses see a need for changes in the healthcare field, and they act as advocates and activists to try and make those changes. This creates positive changes for their patients, as well as for the nurses working with patients. In many cases, these nurses become leaders because of the changes they make in the nursing field.
I chose Billie Lynn Allard as she exemplifies the meaning of nursing leadership in the modern day. One of the biggest challenges in American healthcare includes pursuing improvement with the “Triple Aim” of improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care. It is a huge challenge that I consider the equivalent of moving heaven and earth in healthcare. Nonetheless, Billie Lynn Allard successfully provided a model for healthcare provider to emulate. She is truly a trailblazer!
