Name
Chamberlain University
NR-705: DNP Project & Practicum II
Prof. Name
Date
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is prepared to assume advanced roles in both leadership and management within healthcare systems. These skills are critical as future nurse executives must oversee teams, optimize resources, and promote collaboration to ensure safe, high-quality, and cost-effective patient care. Effective leadership enables DNPs to implement evidence-based interventions, improve clinical outcomes, and influence organizational success.
As a DNP student, I recognize that my leadership competencies are essential to advancing my project and professional development. Core strengths such as self-awareness, self-management, and communication skills support my ability to motivate teams, address challenges, and engage stakeholders. At the same time, I acknowledge the need for improvement in time management and remain committed to ongoing learning and refinement in this area.
Self-awareness is one of the most valuable leadership attributes, as it allows me to recognize my strengths, areas for growth, and the impact of my behavior on others (Friedman et al., 2021). Through reflective practice and self-assessment, I can identify how my decisions influence interprofessional collaboration and patient care outcomes.
Self-management enhances this quality by ensuring that I regulate emotions, adapt to dynamic healthcare environments, and leverage my strengths effectively. These skills promote constructive relationships and trust-building with colleagues. By applying these attributes, I can engage stakeholders, reduce resistance to change, and ensure that evidence-based practices are adopted effectively.
Effective communication is another cornerstone of leadership. As a DNP leader, I must clearly express goals, expectations, and responsibilities to ensure all team members understand their roles. Strong communication fosters collaboration, enhances patient and stakeholder satisfaction, and prevents misunderstandings.
In addition, active listening and transparent dialogue ensure that the perspectives of patients, staff, and administrators are respected and incorporated into project initiatives. This approach builds stakeholder ownership of outcomes, improves team performance, and supports successful project execution.
Although I demonstrate strengths in several leadership areas, I recognize that time management requires improvement. Presently, my ability to prioritize competing demands is moderate, but I am actively working toward greater efficiency.
Strategies for improvement include developing structured schedules, prioritizing tasks by urgency and value, and incorporating digital tools such as task management applications, shared calendars, and reminders. Additionally, enrolling in professional development workshops on time management will provide further strategies to manage competing demands and enhance overall productivity.
| Leadership Skill | Current Competency | Application in DNP Role | Planned Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-awareness & Self-management | Strong | Promotes trust, collaboration, and sound decision-making | Continue self-reflection, integrate peer feedback, and apply mindfulness strategies |
| Communication | Strong | Enhances stakeholder engagement, ensures role clarity, and improves team performance | Adopt structured methods such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) |
| Time Management | Moderate | Helps balance competing priorities and ensures efficient project execution | Utilize scheduling tools, take online workshops, and maintain task diaries |
The preceptor’s role in advanced practice education parallels that of a mentor in a professional partnership, where both parties contribute toward mutual growth and success. My preceptor played a crucial role during the proposal development process by offering constructive feedback, presenting alternative solutions, and nurturing a supportive academic environment.
Her insights improved the theoretical foundation of my project and refined my methodology. The clarity and timeliness of her feedback ensured that I could incorporate changes effectively while fostering my confidence in decision-making. Her nonjudgmental approach encouraged me to learn from challenges and continually improve my practice.
Beyond serving as a preceptor, she became a mentor and role model whose career achievements demonstrated the impact of dedication and discipline. Her experience in clinical practice and academia highlighted the potential of DNP-prepared nurses to influence both patient outcomes and the nursing profession. Her emphasis on scholarly inquiry and evidence-based practice reinforced the value of research as a foundation for improving healthcare systems.
Overall, her mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my professional development, providing motivation, guidance, and a vision for the future of nursing leadership.
Friedman, A., Hancock, B., & Thompson, P. A. (2021). Data-based self-awareness as the foundation for effective leadership. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 51(10), 478–480. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001057
