Leadership, health systems and policy: Doctoral education and integrated clinical application

Scientifically rigorous and readily transferable nursing research as a foundation for development of sound local and national policy can be further delivered into the policy arena by PhD prepared nurse leaders. Core curricular elements in the preparation of nurse scientists to advance the profession must therefore include competencies in leadership, health care systems, health economics, and policy. We present a curriculum model from a university in the southern United States that includes both a theoretical and application approach to incorporate a Leadership in Health Care Systems Course and Field Experience. Implementation of this approach is thought to result in a nurse scientist to have better preparation to engage in and with the broader health care system, policy, and interprofessional collaboration more quickly. We then present a student exemplar of a doctoral student's leadership field experience in a national advocacy and legislative process and discuss educational and professional gains from this lived experience.