The role of nurse leaders in improving health

Premature deaths could be avoided and NHS resources saved if healthcare staff provided more effective support for people to improve health-related behaviour. All healthcare staff can deliver very brief interventions, which have been proved to have a positive effect. Nurse leaders play a vital role in helping frontline staff deliver behaviour change interventions, and in ensuring support is available for staff to stay healthy. This article--the first in a two-part series--outlines the action nurse leaders need to take. Part 2 (to be published next week) focuses on the role of frontline staff in integrating behaviour change interventions into their clinical work.