Strategies for Nursing Leadership

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Summary: Strategies for Nursing Leadership
Review: Strategies for Nursing Leadership by Harriet R. Feldman (Ed.)

Strategies for Nursing Leadership is an anthology edited by Harriet R. Feldman, a nurse noted for her leadership. There are 37 reputable contributors. Some contributed to more than one chapter. There are 29 chapters some of which have multiple authors. The chapters are divided into four parts: 1. Getting Started, 2. Developing Leadership Skills, 3. Enhancing Patient and Employee Satisfaction, and 4. Coping with Changing Institutions. The chapters were originally published in Nursing Leadership Forum. Sixteen were published in 1995 and 1996 (eight each year). Thirteen were published in 1998 (6), 1999 (3), and 2000 (4). The book was then copyrighted in 2001. Part 1, Getting Started, addresses leadership by writing, legendary leadership, storytelling, preparing the nurse executive for the future, and reflections on achieving professional leadership. Part 2, Developing Leadership Skills, discusses giving speeches, succession planning, ethical leadership, maintaining balance, philanthropy, research, and fundraising. Part 3, Enhancing Patient and Employee Satisfaction, contains chapters about reflections on empowerment, impact of organizational climate on nurse satisfaction, focus group interviews to improve patient satisfaction, shared governance, use of computers, funding, nominating a colleagues for awards, and cost control by reducing operating expenses. Part 4, Coping with Changing Institutions, discusses expert nurse executives, responsible redesign, reengineering, and restructure, vulnerability of the nurse administrator, displaced nurses, overseeing closing an institution, mergers, and ends with consensus and community in American health care. The content was extremely relevant for the 1990s and continues to be useful in the 2000s. The book is well organized, well written, and contains valuable information for nurse administrators. It also preserves some history of nursing and health care.