Leadership Development Recommendations for Clinical Nurse Managers to Bolster the Postpandemic Workforce

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Leadership
• Organizational Development

Background:

• The postpandemic environment highlights the critical need for robust support systems for clinical nurse managers.
• Decades of nursing leadership literature emphasize the importance of role transition, competencies, mentorship, and development for nurse managers.
• A competent, adaptable, and people-oriented nurse leader is crucial for healthcare workforce survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate existing recommendations for clinical nurse manager support and development through a summative literature review.
• To correlate published findings with internal health system data, including surveys, focus groups, and gap analyses.
• To implement an evidence-based program to enhance the preparedness of clinical nurse managers for contemporary healthcare leadership challenges.

Main Methods:

• Summative review of published literature on nurse manager competency, development, and support.
• Correlation of literature findings with postpandemic internal survey data, focus groups, reaction panels, and gap analysis within a health system.
• Validation of historic recommendations and preparation for evidence-based program development.

Main Results:

• Published literature consistently supports the need for comprehensive competency, development, and support for nurse managers.
• Internal health system data validated the enduring relevance of these recommendations in the postpandemic context.
• A gap analysis identified specific areas for targeted program development.

Conclusions:

• The findings endorse the necessity of prioritizing and bolstering support for clinical nurse managers.
• An evidence-based program is recommended to equip nurse managers with essential leadership skills for current healthcare realities.
• Investing in nurse manager development is vital for the resilience and effectiveness of the healthcare workforce.