I had doubted my ability but now feel empowered.
The Maternal-Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy helped this educator gain confidence in her leadership skills.
I was working as the clinical nurse educator in a Level III neonatal intensive care nursery (NICU) and had just completed my master’s degree in nursing education. But instead of feeling empowered, I felt like an impostor.
Because I was the unit educator, staff relied on my knowledge base for guidance, support, and enhancement of their educational needs. Obtaining the degree validated me as a member of the leadership team, but I doubted my ability to live up to that degree. I felt like I was wearing a new pair of shoes, but they were not mine.
I came across an advertisement for the Maternal-Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy (MCHNLA) in one of my nursing journals and thought it might be an opportunity to challenge myself and develop confidence in my leadership skills. My director of nursing, Eileen P. Magri, PhD, RN, NE-BC, and my Mentor, Cathyjo Catalano, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, were supportive and encouraged me to apply for the program, which is administered by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI).
Much to my surprise, I was selected to participate. MCHNLA was a game-changer for my career.
The leadership practices that spoke to many of us were “Model the Way” and “Encourage the Heart.” The atmosphere was one of encouragement, support, self-reflection, and personal and professional growth. Participants came from several states across the United States and also from Vancouver, Canada, with one plan in mind: “How can I grow as a leader and provide the best care for moms and babies?” It was an amazing opportunity for networking, brainstorming, and developing leadership skills.
Under the guidance of my Mentor and my Faculty Advisor, Leigh Small, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, I watched myself go through a tremendous metamorphosis—I went from feeling like an impostor to feeling like a leader. Those new shoes started to fit, and I changed my game!
The leadership academy taught me how to involve staff in planning and implementing an evidence-based project for skin-to-skin contact for high acuity infants in the NICU. I learned how to engage staff members who were enthusiastic for change as well as those who were hesitant to try new ideas.
The tools I acquired through the academy helped me develop my skill set at the master’s level, which gave me the confidence to accept a new position as assistant director of professional nursing practice and education and to pursue my doctorate, which I will complete this year.
MCHNLA was an amazing program for growth, both professionally and personally, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to participate.
STTI is accepting applications through 14 December 2017 for its Maternal-Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy (MCHNLA). STTI’s International Leadership Institute administers the academy mentoring program in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Corporate Contributions. RNL
Alice Nash, MA, RNC-NIC, is assistant director of professional nursing practice and education at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, New York, USA.
Faculty Advisor Leigh Small on Fellow Alice Nash
Alice Nash and her Mentor, Cathyjo Catalano, were wonderful to work with. Nash’s leadership growth was remarkable! She refined the leadership skills of modeling positive team-building behaviors for others, inspiring a shared vision with her team members, challenging established processes, empowering collaborative action, and encouraging team members along the way. She exemplified the Fellow leadership journey we hope to inspire through the Maternal-Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy as she completed her project, “Parental Engagement and Integration with the NICU Team: Promoting Skin-to-Skin Interaction Between Parents and Medically Fragile Neonates.”