NURS 453
Leadership in Nursing
1. Catalog Entry
NURS 453. Leadership in Nursing
Four hours lecture (4).
Prerequisites: NURS 443, 444, 448 or permission of instructor
Co-requisites: NURS 454 or permission of instructor
Semester offered: Fall and Spring
Focuses on the major leadership and professional development skills necessary for professional
practice including leadership style, management and leadership theories, change, quality
management, fiscal and economic issues, personnel management, legal and ethical issues,
healthcare organizations and policy, professionalism, personal nursing philosophy, political
action, career development, and historical influences on nursing today.
2. Detailed Description of Content of the Course
The objectives and content of this Level 4 Course are derived from the School of Nursing’s
philosophy and conceptual framework, and facilitate achievement of the School’s program
objectives. Additionally, the major topics and skills covered in this course are common to major
leadership and professional development nursing textbooks, and represent areas covered on
standardized achievement examinations and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Current research and
advancement in theory and clinical practice also determine content.
Emphasis is placed on the following concepts/theories:
1. Nursing leadership
a. Nature of organizations
b. Leadership/management skills
c. Time management/quality management
d. Managing and initiating change
e. Decision making/problem solving
f. Group process/team building
g. Budgeting/finances
h. Recruiting/selecting staff
i. Conflict management
j. Human resource management skills
k. Performance appraisal/personnel problems
l. Delegation
m. Motivation/mentoring
n. Customer relations
2. Professional Dimensions
a. Professionalism/professional development
b. Nursing history
c. Ethical decision making
d. Legal aspects of professional nursing
e. Public policy/economics
f. Political action
g. Career development
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The following teaching strategies will be employed:

Lectures, discussion, multimedia, and case studies.
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Apply the nursing process in a leadership role to promote, protect, and restore clients’ holistic
health.
2. Assume professional responsibility and accountability for implementation of standards of
nursing practice in a nursing leadership role.
3. Apply health care and information technologies through the leadership role to enhance
professional nursing practice.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking incorporating research findings in identifying changing health
care needs of society, evaluating health care services, identifying trends that signal new
directions for nursing practice within the health care delivery system, and discussing the
influence of health care economics on the delivery of health care and on professional nursing
practice.
5. Demonstrate caring through theory and evidence based nursing interventions in a leadership
role.
6. Implement effective written, oral, and nonverbal communication skills in a nursing leadership
role.
7. Apply ethical decision making processes by contrasting selected ethical theories/frameworks
and valuing their application in client care situations.
8. Collaborate with clients and other health professionals to provide culturally sensitive, holistic
health care to individuals, families, aggregates, and communities.
9. Assume responsibility for one’s own lifelong learning process through analysis of
professionalism and implications for personal and professional development, including
alternatives for achieving professional career goals and objectives, and sharing expertise with
colleagues.
10. Exhibit leadership qualities by demonstrating knowledge of leadership and management
principles related to professional nursing practice.
11. Participate in the legislative and policy-making process to promote the advancement of
nursing and health care at the state, federal, or global level on issues relevant to health care
delivery and professional nursing practice.
12. Explain the importance of legal issues relative to responsibility and accountability in nursing
practice.
13. Describe historical, social, and educational perspectives that influence the nursing profession
today
5. Assessment Measures
May include:






Exams; Quizzes
Paper
Project, Individual or Group
Care Plan
Oral Presentations
Class Participation
The course grade is determined by an evaluation of the extent to which the student meets the
stated course objectives. Students must have a minimum of 75% (“C”) in theory, measured
through testing. Other written or class participation work will be included in the final grade after
the minimum 75% (“C”) has been attained through testing.
6. Other Course Information
Additional charges may apply to attend mandatory events.
Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment
to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or
exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted in
strict observance of the Honor Code. Refer to your Student Handbook for details.
Students with Disabilities: If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the Americans
With Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Office (DRO).
The DRO is located in Room 32, Tyler Hall, telephone 540-831-6350. To receive academic
accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper DRO forms and meet with me no later
than the second week of the semester.
Attendance: For Attendance policies and other course-related requirements, see School of
Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook and Course Description.
7. Review and Approval
Date Action Reviewed by
April 2006 Undergraduate Curriculum Marcella Griggs, Review Director
NURS 453
Leadership in Nursing
1. Catalog Entry
NURS 453. Leadership in Nursing
Four hours lecture (4).
Prerequisites: NURS 443, 444, 448
Co-requisites: NURS 454
Semester offered: Fall and Spring
Focuses on the major leadership and professional development skills necessary for
professional practice including leadership style, management and leadership theories,
change, quality management, fiscal and economic issues, personnel management,
legal and ethical issues, healthcare organizations and policy, professionalism, personal
nursing philosophy, political action, career development, and historical influences on
nursing today.
2. Detailed Description of Content of the Course
The objectives and content of this course are derived from the School of Nursing’s
philosophy and conceptual framework and the AACN Essentials for Baccalaureate
Education for Professional Nursing Practice and facilitate the achievement of the
program objectives. These objectives represent content covered on standardized
achievement examinations and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Current research and
advances in theory and practice also determine course content.
Emphasis is placed on the following concepts/theories:
1. Nursing leadership
a. Nature of organizations
b. Leadership/management skills
c. Time management/quality management
d. Managing and initiating change
e. Decision making/problem solving
f. Group process/team building
g. Budgeting/finances
h. Recruiting/selecting staff
i. Conflict management
j. Human resource management skills
k. Performance appraisal/personnel problems
l. Delegation
m. Motivation/mentoring
n. Customer relations
2. Professional Dimensions
a. Professionalism/professional development
b. Nursing history
c. Ethical decision making
d. Legal aspects of professional nursing
e. Public policy/economics
f. Political action
g. Career development
h. Nursing Regulations of the Code of Virginia
i. Recognition and intervention in known or suspected incidences of abuse, neglect,
and exploitation of children or elderly and incapacitated adults.
j, Patient rights
k. Bioterrorism
l. Domestic violence
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The following teaching strategies will be employed but are not limited to:
Lectures, discussion, multimedia, and case studies.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Apply the nursing process in a leadership role to promote, protect, and restore
clients’ holistic health.
2. Assume professional responsibility and accountability for implementation of standards
of nursing practice in a nursing leadership role.
3. Apply health care and information technologies through the leadership role to
enhance professional nursing practice and to support a safe practice environment for
patients and healthcare workers.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking incorporating research findings in identifying changing
health care needs of society, evaluating health care services, identifying trends that
signal new directions for nursing practice within the health care delivery system, and
discussing the influence of health care economics on the delivery of health care and
on professional nursing practice.
5. Collaborates with members of the healthcare team to implement holistic, patientcentered care that reflects an understanding of the multi-dimensional aspects of
nursing management and leadership across the health-illness continuum, across the
lifespan and in all healthcare settings.
6. Utilize inter- and intra-professional communication and collaborative skills to deliver
evidence-based, patient-centered care through healthcare team coordination.
7. Apply ethical decision making processes by contrasting selected ethical
theories/frameworks and valuing their application in client care situations.
8. Engages in evidence-based practice in collaboration with other health professionals
to provide culturally sensitive, holistic health care to individuals, families, aggregates,
and communities and to promote a culture of safety and caring.
9. Assume responsibility for one’s own lifelong learning process through analysis of
professionalism and implications for personal and professional development, including
alternatives for achieving professional career goals and objectives, and sharing
expertise with colleagues to support excellence in nursing practice.
10. Exhibit leadership qualities by demonstrating knowledge of leadership and
management principles related to professional nursing practice.
11. Participate in the legislative and policy-making process to promote the
advancement of nursing and health care at the state, federal, or global level on issues
relevant to health care delivery and to promote the advancement of professional
nursing practice.
12. Explain the importance of legal issues relative to responsibility and accountability in
nursing practice.
13. Describe historical, social, and educational perspectives that influence the nursing
profession today
14. Participates in evidence-based research in collaboration with other members of the
healthcare team to improve patient outcomes
Assessment Measures
May include but are not limited to:
Exams; Quizzes
Paper
Project, Individual or Group
Care Plan
Oral Presentations
Class Participation
The course grade is determined by an evaluation of the extent to which the student
meets the stated course objectives. Students must have a minimum of 75% (“C”) in
theory, measured through testing. Other written or class participation work will be
included in the final grade after the minimum 75% (“C”) has been attained through
testing.
Other Course Information
Additional charges may apply to attend mandatory events.
Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a
commitment to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without
compromise or exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This
class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code. Refer to your Student
Handbook for details.
Students with Disabilities: If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the
Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Disability Resource
Office (DRO). The DRO is located in Room 32, Tyler Hall, telephone 540-831-6350. To
receive academic accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper DRO forms
and meet with me no later than the second week of the semester.
Attendance: For Attendance policies and other course-related requirements, see
School of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook and Course Description.
Review and Approval
Date Action Reviewed by
February 2011, Kim Carter, Director