Emerging Nurse Leader

A leadership development blog

Nurse Leaders are Running on Empty

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN "I feel like a car running on fumes." That is how a nurse leader recently described her energy level.  In the first few months, the adrenaline was high.  The changes were rapid-fire, and leaders moved with the flow.  But now, weeks have moved into months, and exhaustion is the common theme I am hearing from leaders.  Some are in … [Read more...]

Maintaining Trust With Frequent Policy and Practice Changes

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Front-line leaders tell me that recent frequent changes to organizational policies and practices have left staff reeling.  We know from Gallup research that the four qualities that staff look for in their leaders are trust, stability, compassion, and hope. COVID-19 is creating challenges in two of these four qualities - trust and … [Read more...]

Staying Connected with Furloughed Staff

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN A front-line perioperative manager recently told me that she had to furlough 50% of her staff earlier this month with no clear plan of when they would return.  I asked her how she was staying connected with them.  I have not been in touch with them; she admitted to me.  I don't even know what to say.  All of it is pretty … [Read more...]

Front-line Nurse Leader Guilt

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN We are hearing a great deal about nurse leader stress and burnout but less about the struggles that front-line leaders are having with their own guilt during this time.   Leaders experience guilt when they have a responsibility that they feel they failed to live up to. The emotion of guilt is focused on failure. The stories that … [Read more...]

Adaptability an Essential Competency

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By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, FAAN               During a virtual workshop, a perioperative leader asked the insightful question - should we be interviewing for different skills in this environment?  We have learned from polling during these workshops over the past two months that the majority of health systems … [Read more...]