This paper presents a personal leadership development plan written from the perspective of a telemetry nurse aiming to transition into an intensive care unit (ICU) setting. The author assesses her leadership attributes—including compassion, empathy, and decisiveness—and identifies short- and long-term professional goals such as joining the ANA and AACN, completing a BSN, and pursuing CRNA certification. The plan also addresses expert power development through additional credentials (CMC and CCRN), culturally sensitive care, time management, and the prevention of nursing burnout. A personal vision statement integrating professional and family responsibilities is woven throughout.
My ultimate goal is to become a nurse in an intensive care unit (ICU). Working in an ICU requires tremendous strength of character and decisiveness on the part of the nurse. The nurse must think quickly, give clear directives, and communicate a sense of confidence to the patient. In my current work as a nurse on a telemetry unit, I must also demonstrate confidence and provide clear direction when dealing with patients with critical illnesses.
I would describe myself as a compassionate person and a good listener, both of which are essential attributes when dealing with critically ill patients. A nurse must be empathetic when dealing with others and must understand the physical and personal stressors caused by various illnesses. I am respectful to patients as well as to my colleagues, and I attempt to be fair in the ways in which I allocate tasks when I am in a leadership position.
I strive to provide a caring and nurturing environment for my patients, one that is supportive of personal wellness. I strive to promote patient empowerment and maximize patient self-care. Even within ICUs, allowing patients to be mobile — so long as it does not compromise their care — has been found to be health-promoting. As noted in the literature on intensive care medicine, "recent studies on early mobilization in medical ICU patients have demonstrated that such an approach is feasible and safe and have suggested potential benefits of decreased ICU [length of stay] and improved long-term morbidity" (Hildreth, 2010, p. 1).
At home, I hope to create a similarly caring and nurturing environment that promotes healthy interdependence as well as independence for my husband and children. I strive to balance the demands of home and work in an effective way, so that neither area of my life suffers as a result of my commitment to the other. Personal and professional goals should be complementary rather than competing. I intend to engage in effective self-care, seek support when I feel stressed, and strive to remain organized when managing my life priorities.
In the short term, I hope to use the experience I have gained as a telemetry nurse to obtain a position in an ICU. I also plan to become more involved in professional nursing organizations by joining the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
Looking further ahead, I will complete my BSN degree within the next two years and apply for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program.
"CMC and CCRN certifications and networking strategy"
"Cultural competence, time management, and nursing burnout"
You’re 46% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 2 sections.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.