This article is part of a captivating series on Sigma members who have recently achieved one of the highest honors in the field of nursing research: induction into Sigma’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.
When I first began my journey in nursing, I couldn’t have imagined the path that would unfold before me. As a Venezuelan-Haitian-American who immigrated to the United States at 16, the challenges I faced felt overwhelming. Navigating a new language, culture, and education system while pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse taught me lessons in resilience, hard work, and determination. But I want to share this with you: You don’t have to wait until you’ve been in the profession for years to make an impact.
Whether you’re fresh out of nursing school or still a student, your voice, ideas, and energy are exactly what the healthcare system needs. Leadership doesn’t come from age, title, or experience—it comes from your willingness to make a difference, right where you are. My story is proof that leadership can begin as soon as you decide to act, and I’m here to encourage you to take that first step now.
1. Leadership starts at the bedside
Early in my career, I worked as a bedside nurse and later as a family nurse practitioner caring for patients with chronic illnesses. From the beginning, I learned that leadership doesn’t always come with a title or position of authority—it starts with every interaction you have with your patients and your team. Leadership is about noticing what needs to be done and stepping up to make it happen. Advocating for my patients by ensuring they received the best possible care and that their voices were heard became the foundation of my leadership.
One of the most personal and transformative moments for me was when I cared for my sister after she developed a rare disease. In that moment, my nursing skills became personal, and I realized that leadership is as much about compassion and advocacy as it is about clinical expertise. Every time you speak up for a patient, ensure they are heard, or make sure they feel safe, you are already acting as a leader. These small acts of leadership are what drive real change in healthcare.
2. Your perspective matters
As young nurses, you bring something invaluable to healthcare: a fresh perspective. You see the world through different lenses—digital natives, more attuned to mental health needs, and passionate about diversity and inclusion. This generation of nurses has the potential to make healthcare more empathetic, equitable, and innovative.
When I began studying chemosensory science—the study of taste and smell—it wasn’t a common area for nurses to explore. But I was curious about how sensory perceptions could influence patients’ health, particularly in populations with chronic illnesses or after major surgeries. For example, I worked with patients who had undergone weight-loss surgery, many of whom reported that food no longer tasted the same, which led to challenges with their nutritional health. This seemingly small issue opened up a new area of research and clinical practice for me.
The lesson here is that your ideas matter. The things you’re curious about—the challenges you notice that others might overlook—are opportunities to make a meaningful impact. Don’t be afraid to pursue the areas of nursing that interest you, even if they seem unconventional. Healthcare is constantly evolving, and nurses are in a unique position to help shape that evolution.
3. Take risks and embracing challenges
Throughout my career, I’ve faced challenges that pushed me outside my comfort zone. One defining moment was when I experienced a life-changing injury—I fell onto the tracks of a New York City subway and broke my leg. At the time, I was in nursing school, and I had to decide: Do I push through and take my test despite my injury, or let this setback stop me? I chose to push through.
That experience taught me that leadership requires resilience. You will face obstacles, whether emotional, physical, or mental, that will test your resolve. But it’s in these moments that you will grow the most. Every challenge is preparing you for something greater. Leadership isn’t about never falling—it’s about how you get back up, learn from your experience, and move forward stronger than before.
4. Embrace your own timeline
One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey is that we all have our own timeline in life. It’s easy to look at others and feel like we’re falling behind, especially when you see peers achieving things you haven’t yet. Early in my career, I found myself doing just that—comparing my progress to others.
As an international student, my path looked different from many of my peers. After graduation, while many of them were starting to work in hospitals or advanced clinical settings, I had a different challenge—I needed to find a visa sponsor. This meant that, unlike them, I started my career working in a skilled nursing facility. At the time, I felt like I was behind and that I wasn’t moving forward at the same pace. But looking back, I realize that I wasn’t behind at all. I was doing exactly what I needed to do to move forward on my journey.
Those early experiences shaped the nurse and scientist I’ve become today. Now, as I look back, I see that every step along the way—no matter how different it seemed—was preparing me for where I am today and to do the work I’m meant to do, both for myself and for the profession. Your timeline is your own, and you will reach your goals in a way that’s right for you. Success looks different for everyone, and it’s important that you stay true to your path.
5. The resume of failures: A necessary step to success
As a scientist, people often see the accolades—the published papers, the speaking engagements, and the awards. But what many don’t realize is that behind every achievement is a much longer resume of failures. My journey in research and nursing has been shaped by rejection letters, failed experiments, and projects that didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. I’ve been told “no” more times than I can count. I’ve had grant applications denied, papers rejected, and research ideas that simply didn’t work.
But failure is not the opposite of success—it’s part of it. Each rejection has taught me resilience. Each failed experiment has forced me to rethink my approach, and each setback has made me more determined. If you’re going to succeed as a nurse, as a researcher, or in any leadership role, you must embrace the fact that failure is part of the process. Instead of fearing it, use it as a learning tool. The most successful people I know have long lists of failures that led them to where they are today.
Leadership doesn’t mean you’ll get everything right the first time, either. Some of my most important lessons came from moments of failure. I remember managing a complex patient case early in my career, and despite my best efforts, things didn’t go as planned. I was devastated, but I quickly realized that leadership is as much about how you respond to failure as it is about your successes. Each challenge and mistake is an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve.
So, the next time something doesn’t go as planned, remember: Every failure is a steppingstone toward your next success.
6. You don’t need a title to lead
One of the biggest misconceptions about leadership is that you need a formal title to be considered a leader. But leadership is a mindset, and it’s something you can practice from day one. When I was just starting out, I didn’t have a title or position of authority. But I knew I could lead by advocating for my patients, initiating small changes in my work environment, and being a role model for my colleagues.
You can do the same. Whether it’s suggesting an improvement in patient care, supporting a colleague who’s struggling, or volunteering to lead a project, you’re already leading. Leadership doesn’t wait for permission—it’s about taking initiative to create positive change, no matter how small.
7. Leadership through innovation: Asking “What if?”
Healthcare is ripe for innovation, and as a young nurse, you have the advantage of a fresh perspective. I encourage you to ask, “What if?” often:
- What if we could use technology to improve nurse-patient communication?
- What if we designed new tools to reduce burnout in nursing?
- What if we reimagined care environments based on sensory science to enhance patient recovery?
These types of questions can lead to innovative solutions. In fact, they’re the questions that helped me delve deeper into chemosensory science and its implications for patient health. Don’t be afraid to think big and challenge the status quo. Healthcare needs bold thinkers like you to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
8. The power of mentorship and collaboration
I wouldn’t be where I am today without incredible mentors who supported and guided me through the toughest parts of my journey. Mentorship is essential in nursing, and it’s a powerful form of leadership in itself. Seek out mentors who inspire you, challenge you to grow, and help you navigate the complexities of your career.
At the same time, remember that you can also be a mentor. As you grow in your career, share your knowledge and experiences with those just starting out. By mentoring others, you reinforce your own learning and help shape the next generation of nurses.
9. The future of nursing is you
As you progress on your journey in nursing, know that the future of healthcare is in your hands. Nurses are at the heart of patient care, and we have the power to drive change, advocate for policies that benefit our communities, and ensure that healthcare becomes more compassionate, equitable, and innovative.
Don’t wait to make an impact. Leadership is not something you have to wait for—it’s something you can embrace right now. Whether you’re advocating for your patients, supporting your peers, or pursuing new areas of research, your actions today are shaping the future of nursing. You have everything it takes to lead, starting right where you are.
Paule Valery Joseph, PhD, MBA, MS, FNP-BC, CTN-B, FAAN, is a Lasker Clinical Research Scholar at the National Institutes of Health (NIH); Distinguished Scholar at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD); and Chief of the Section on Sensory Science and Metabolism. She also serves as co-director of the NIH National Smell and Taste Center and is a member of Sigma’s Phi Epsilon and Xi Chapters.