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The Professional Behaviors New Nurses Need: Findings From a National Survey of Hospital Nurse Leaders
Charlotte Sortedahl1, Shanna Ellefson, Danielle Fotsch
1About the Authors Charlotte Sortedahl, DNP, MPH/MS, RN, CCM, is an associate professor, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Shanna Ellefson, BSN, RN; Danielle Fotsch, BSN, RN; and Katie Daley, BSN, RN, worked on this project as undergraduate researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Funding for the project was received from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Mary C. and Fred Bliss Endowment for Faculty Development, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. For more information and permission to use the survey, contact Dr. Sortedahl at sortedck@uwec.edu.
Aim:
The purpose of this study was to survey hospital nurse leaders throughout the United States to determine which professional behaviors they believe are essential for nursing students to learn in the classroom.
Background:
This study was part of a multiphase study. The survey was revised from a previous survey administered to nurse leaders in the Midwest.
Method:
Participants were surveyed using 46 items in the categories of Change, Communication, Conflict, Leadership, and Self-Awareness.
Results:
The highest ranked category was Communication, followed by Self-Awareness, Change, Leadership, and Conflict. The highest rated items in each category were communication with patients, accept constructive criticism, manage change, prioritization, and conflict resolution techniques.
Conclusion:
Nurse educators and leaders can use the findings to continue to refine nursing education.
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