Opinion Article:
Unionized Nurse Leaders Assert a Greater Influence Over Working Conditions and Quality of Patient Care Gwendolyn Lancaster, EdD, MSN, RN Lisa Ma, BSN, RN Nancy D’Leema, RN Cathy Narcavage-Bradley, MSN, RN Lucille Sollazzo, BSN, RN Carol Lynn Esposito, EdD, JD, MS, RN
n A bstract Nurses who attend leadership training have the opportunity to become effective advocates and make a positive impact on the nursing profession and patient outcomes. Nurse leaders possess and share a passion and vision of nursing, creating excitement in their work that is often contagious to others. Nurse leaders in unionized environments have the knowledge and skills needed to exercise their united voice, and the power to preserve and secure nursing’s influential contribution to the delivery of health care. Nurse leaders who can mobilize other nurses to build a positive organization by re-energizing and empowering the workforce can restore nurses’ confidence in themselves and inspire them to embrace and initiate the adjustments needed in our ever-changing, chaotic health care system.
Introduction Recent health care system reforms have begun a paradigm shift for the nursing profession with promises of changing the practice of nurses, expanding current nursing roles, creating new ones, and providing many opportunities for nurses to proactively participate in shaping the future of the delivery of health care within the workplace and the health care system.
Every nurse has the power and, now, the opportunity to impact the nursing profession like never before through day-to-day advocacy for patients, nurses, and the nursing profession (Tomajan, 2012). Today’s rising health care costs continue to fuel discussions and debates at the unit and systems levels about health care disparities and health care reform. As nurses, we believe a compassionate, just, and benevolent society must provide health care for all of its citizens.
Dr. Gwendolyn Lancaster is an Assistant Nursing Coordinator at Mt. Sinai-St. Luke’s Hospital, New York, NY, and an Adjunct Professor at Adelphi University, College of Nursing and Public Health, Garden City, NY. Lisa Ma is an RN in the Psych-Med Unit at Bellevue Hospital HHC, New York, NY. Nancy D’Leema is an RN in the Rehab Facility at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY, and a member of the Leadership Academy. Cathy Narcavage-Bradley is an In-Service Educator at Upstate University Hospital’s Community Campus in the Health Education Department and works as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner through Vera House responding to Syracuse Emergency Departments. Lucille Sollazzo is currently an Associate Director of Nursing Education and Practice for the New York State Nurses Association. Dr. Carol Lynn Esposito is currently the Director of Nursing Education and Practice for the New York State Nurses Association. 46
Journal of the New York State Nurses Association, Volume 44, Number 2
