Nursing Leadership Portfolio
Education And Experience
My nursing education includes attaining my Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) at Florida State College at Jacksonville and my Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of North Florida.
My Professional Nursing Roles include UF Health Jacksonville as a Registered Nurse in Trauma/Surgery Progressive Care, Registered Nurse at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in the Cardiac/Stroke Unit and Registered Nurse at St. Vincent's Medical Center in the Medical/Surgical GI Department. My duties at UF Health included caring for post-intensive medical/surgical patients in a progressive care environment and performing duties including medication administration utilizing EPIC EMAR server, PICC line care, IV insertion, PEG tube feedings, TPN/Lipid Management, chest tube care, tracheotomy care, PCA assessment/management, catheter insertion, wound vac care, pulmonary, cardiac, neurological and GI assessment and management. At Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital as a Registered Nurse in the Cardiac Stroke Unit I conducted care for post-surgical and medically complex Cardiac and Stroke patients in a rehabilitation environment and performed duties such as stated at UF Health and additionally educated patients and families regarding home care, medications, precautions, and new medical issues and worked collaboratively with physicians, therapists and social workers in determining plans of care. At St. Vincent's Medical Center I performed the same duties listed for UF Health and Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital and additionally educated patients and families in regards to pre- and post-operative teaching, performed accurate assessments of patients upon arrival to the unit and prior to surgical procedures to maintain highest level of safety; discuss and plan with physicians the plan of care. I also created patient-focused goals and worked as a team member in creating a safe and positive work environment.
My leadership experiences include leading stroke education seminars with patients and families at Brooks.
Leadership is the ability to assist in providing to support to others within the professional group or organization to achieve their maximum potential towards a common goal and in this specific case that of creating the best possible environment to support optimal patient care and ultimately patient healing.
My five-year goal in nursing is to practice as a Nurse Practitioner and complete medical mission trips.
II. IDENTIFICATION OF STRENGTHS
My top five strengths are: (1) Achiever; (2) Competition; (3) Analytical; (4) Ideation; and (5) Focus. In the work entitled "Strengths-Based Leadership" Rath and Conchie report the case of Mervyn Davies, Chairman for Standard Chartered Bank. Davies top five strengths include that of 'achiever' and it is noted that while people around Davies questioned his choices and methods that Davies managed to achieve that which had previously been elusive and considered unachievable. Also reported in this same work in writing is the case of Brad Anderson, CEO for Best Buy whose top five strengths include that of 'ideation'. The strength of ideation enabled Anderson to conceive a new business model and one that was not as high pressure and ultimately proved to be a successful business model for the company.
Rath and Conchie report that what strong teams "have in common" are the following characteristics: (1) Conflict does not destroy teams that are strong since the focus of the strong team is on results; (2) Strong teams are able to set priorities on what is best for the organization and then to move forward; (3) Members of strong teams have a high level of commitment to their personal and work lives; (4) Diversity is embraced by teams that are strong; and (5) Strong teams are "magnets for talent." (Rath and Conchie, p. 74)
Just as in the case of Davies, my strength in the area of 'achiever' will assist in my getting things accomplished even if my methods and choices are questioned. My analytical strength will assist in problem-solving and identification of solutions. Ideation and Focus are both strengths that will assist in developing solutions for problems and remaining on-task until the job is accomplished. My strength of competition could serve as a liability if I do not keep my competitive edge in check when working in a team environment and as well focus if not at a high level can detract from my effectiveness.
The awareness of these strengths will serve to inform my future leadership development in that rather than attempting to become a dominant leader who tries to do everything I will focus on the building of a cohesive team that is well rounded in all four domains. My strengths can assist me as a leader through the knowledge of how to go about building a team that works in unison towards a common goal...
In addition, my strengths can serve in the areas of problem solving and identification of solutions to problems.
Rath and Conchie report a study of the reasons that people follow and words discovered in the study included such as "purpose, wisdom, humor and humility." (p. 80) Trust was noted to be one of the primary reasons that people follow as well as were the needs of compassion, stability, and hope.
Three things learned about my strengths in this study include that while my methods and choices may be questioned, when I understand my choices and methods to be that to support what needs to be achieved that I must make those choices and choose those methods even though they are questioned in the beginning. Another thing learned about my strengths in this study is that my strength of ideation will render future results based on my creative way of problem-solving. Finally, in this study I learned what it takes to make a strong team in terms of my leadership and the elements or characteristics important to those who follow including that I have a purpose and possess wisdom and that I am able to use humor while maintaining humility in my own character.
III. IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT CHARACTERISTICS
The Guardian is described as the "cornerstone of society" since they are the temperament "given to serving and preserving our most important social institutions." (Kiersey, 2014, p. 1) The natural talents of the Guardian includes "managing goods and services from supervision to maintenance and supply -- and they use all their skills to keep things running smoothly in their families, communities, schools, churches, hospitals and businesses." (Kiersey, 2014, p. 1) The characteristics of the Guardian include the core characteristics of possessing pride on being "dependable, helpful, and hard-working." (Kiersey, 2014, p. 1) Guardians are "dutiful, cautious, humble and focused on credentials and traditions." (Kiersey, 2014, p. 1)
The understanding of temperament variability is key to leading in the team environment because different temperaments are suited best for different roles in the team working environment. According to the Kiersey Temperament report there are four temperaments including: (1) Guardians; (2) Idealists; (3) Artisans; and (4) Rationals. The Idealists are described as "Abstract Cooperators" and are reported to speak "mostly of what they hope for and imagine might be possible for people" while acting in good conscience and "always trying to reach their goals without compromising their personal code of ethics." (Kiersey, 2014, p. 1) Artisans are described as "Concrete Utilitarians" and to be focused on hands on tasks and what works and results in quick and effective results. These temperaments do not mind bending the rules. The Rationals are described as "Abstract Utilitarians" and are focused on new problems that they are intrigued with and their visions of new solutions. This temperament is reported to be "always pragmatic…act as efficiently as possible to achieve their objects, ignoring arbitrary rules and conventions if need be." (Kiersey, 2014, p. 1)
Each of the described temperaments offers individual and unique personal benefits to offer in a team work environment. For example, the Artisan temperament is very hands on focused and will play a great role in accomplishing immediate tasks that render immediate and effective results while the Rationals will be assistive in seeking new solutions to new problems that arise. Each of the temperaments will support the team effort in their own unique way and in their view of addressing problems and solutions.
Four take-away points from Kiersey Temperament Theory that informs my leadership development include: (1) My own Guardian temperament is important to many aspects of society and will be supportive of my goals in the Nursing Profession. (2) Other temperaments will support the team effort in their own unique way through their varying views of problems and solutions. (3) All temperaments are important in the team work environment. (4) It is important to respect all temperament views because solutions to problems can be gained by respecting and considering all temperament views of problems and solutions.
IV. ASSESSING LEADERSHIP, FOLLOWERSHIP AND ENVIRONMENT
After completing the self-assessments from 'The New Leadership Challenge' by Grossman and Valiga (2009) my Leadership Characteristics and Skills assessment score is 53 and my perception of what makes a good leader is reported to be "probably mixed between the difference of management and leadership." (p. 18)
My scores on the self-assessment on Followership Style Test on pages 64-65 in Grossman and Valiga (2009) from "The New Leadership Challenge"…
