Development and implementation of a leadership skills course for the charge nurse

Formal education in leadership behaviors and skills is paramount to the development of staff nurses as effective leaders. The need for effective leadership during the present transformation of healthcare, and the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care Organization's mandate to educate and train staff as appropriate to their job responsibilities, resulted in the development and implementation of a leadership skills course for the staff charge nurse. A literature review, input from experienced charge nurses, and clinical nurse managers' perspectives of what is effective leadership for a charge nurse played key roles in development and implementation of the course.