Abstract
This novel leadership program incorporates adult-learning principles, interactive-learning activities, performance improvement project application, dynamic role play and practice-based learning. Through peer support, emotional intelligence role play, interactive didactive content, completion of a self-assessment and transformational leadership elements.
Nursing unit leaders, (Charge RNs), are assimilated with professional development skills and behaviors through participating with highlighting the organizational mission, vision, values and their unique role contribution across the Professional Practice model They exemplify and translate the incorporation of a healthy work environment and culture to enhance quality care and safety in clinical practice directly. The inclusion of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice and Nursing Code of Ethics further augments their direct delivery of excellent, compassionate care for responsible, accountable operational leadership. Ethical leadership plays a crucial role across the healthcare environment. Moral resiliency and ethical clinical dilemma case consideration reinforces responsibility and principles and understanding to navigate next steps with equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Emphasis on performance improvement and their leadership role is incorporated to evolve nursing-related outcomes through the organization's performance improvement integration within the role of Charge nurse. Cultivating and promoting engagement with active involvement through clinical nursing teams increases competence and confidence in evidence-based practice, quality outcomes and leads stakeholders in cultivating a clinical environment which provides recognition for the identification of higher levels of safe, quality care and elevating patient outcomes.
At the completion of the RN Leadership Development Program to optimize the healthy work environments across the organization the department, managers join with the Charge RNs for Joint Action Goal Setting and working to determine performance improvement next steps to increase and enhance patient outcomes through the creation of a performance improvement initiative.
This RN Leadership Development Program is designed to impact quality outcomes through enhanced front line leadership with elevated professional development, incorporation of ANA Scope & Standards, strategic thinking, confidence, motivation, emotional intelligence, and the skills to lead, engage, and empower Charge RNs to impact patient outcomes.
Notes
References: 1.) Harper, M. G., & Maloney, P. (Eds.) (2022). Nursing professional development: Scope & standards of practice (4th ed.). Association for Nursing Professional Development.
2.) American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (4th ed.).
3.) American Nurses Association. (2023). Strategies to combat implicit bias in nursing. https://www.myamericannurse.com/strategies-to-combat-implicit-bias-in-nursing/
4.) American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. AACN Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments: A Journey to Excellence. 2nd ed. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; 2016. Accessed August 11, 2022. https://www.aacn.org/WD/HWE/Docs/HWEStandards.pdf
5.) American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. National Nurse Work Environments - October 2021: A Status Report. Accessed August 11, 2022. https://aacnjournals.org/ccnonline/article/doi/10.4037/ccn2022798/31808/National-Nurse-Work-Environments-October-2021-A
6.) American Nurses Association. Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association; 2015. nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/coe-view-only/
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Work Environment, Charge Nurses, Leadership, Staff Development, Hospital Programs, Program Implementation, Continuing Education
Recommended Citation
Wickramarachchi, Yasith; Schultz, Lori S.; and Dunbar, Ghada B., "Fostering a Healthy Work Environment: Frontline Leadership for Charge RNs Across an Integrated Healthcare System" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 116.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/116
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-03-04
Fostering a Healthy Work Environment: Frontline Leadership for Charge RNs Across an Integrated Healthcare System
Washington, DC, USA
This novel leadership program incorporates adult-learning principles, interactive-learning activities, performance improvement project application, dynamic role play and practice-based learning. Through peer support, emotional intelligence role play, interactive didactive content, completion of a self-assessment and transformational leadership elements.
Nursing unit leaders, (Charge RNs), are assimilated with professional development skills and behaviors through participating with highlighting the organizational mission, vision, values and their unique role contribution across the Professional Practice model They exemplify and translate the incorporation of a healthy work environment and culture to enhance quality care and safety in clinical practice directly. The inclusion of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice and Nursing Code of Ethics further augments their direct delivery of excellent, compassionate care for responsible, accountable operational leadership. Ethical leadership plays a crucial role across the healthcare environment. Moral resiliency and ethical clinical dilemma case consideration reinforces responsibility and principles and understanding to navigate next steps with equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Emphasis on performance improvement and their leadership role is incorporated to evolve nursing-related outcomes through the organization's performance improvement integration within the role of Charge nurse. Cultivating and promoting engagement with active involvement through clinical nursing teams increases competence and confidence in evidence-based practice, quality outcomes and leads stakeholders in cultivating a clinical environment which provides recognition for the identification of higher levels of safe, quality care and elevating patient outcomes.
At the completion of the RN Leadership Development Program to optimize the healthy work environments across the organization the department, managers join with the Charge RNs for Joint Action Goal Setting and working to determine performance improvement next steps to increase and enhance patient outcomes through the creation of a performance improvement initiative.
This RN Leadership Development Program is designed to impact quality outcomes through enhanced front line leadership with elevated professional development, incorporation of ANA Scope & Standards, strategic thinking, confidence, motivation, emotional intelligence, and the skills to lead, engage, and empower Charge RNs to impact patient outcomes.
Description
This leadership development program incorporates methods for optimizing healthy work environments through leadership competencies and application of ANA Scope & Standards for a large integrated healthcare system to improve patient outcomes.