Educating leaders in nursing: faculty perspectives

Recent changes in health care legislation have presented an unprecedented opportunity for nurses to engage as full partners in transforming health care (Institute of Medicine, 2010). According to diverse opinion leaders from insurance, corporate, health services, government, and higher education, nurses should have more influence than they do now on health policy, planning, and management (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2010). More than ever before, nursing needs leaders, and nursing faculty are in a pivotal position to educate leaders in nursing. This article describes the findings of a descriptive study that surveyed nursing faculty teaching in all degree levels to ascertain how they prepare students to be leaders in nursing. Data were analyzed using qualitative methods. Findings demonstrate that faculty engage in self-development as leaders, promote student role development as leaders, and use multiple teaching-learning strategies to educate students to be leaders in nursing.