NS5790 - Leadership and Dispute Resolution Skills for Nurses and Midwives

This subject provides the student with the knowledge, skills and ability to take effective action when confronting the challenges involved in leading nursing in a health care environment characterised by increasing change and complexity. The student will have an opportunity to study the foundational aspects of leadership, to explore issues of nursing leadership within the clinical practice environment, and to take appropriate action to ensure best outcomes within their particular health care setting. Critical to effective leadership is the ability to effectively manage conflict, in all its forms. The subject therefore includes contemporary knowledge about alternative dispute resolution, for example negotiation skills which can be used to resolve disputes that occur in health care organisations and which may impact upon nursing practice and clinical outcomes for patients. The student will explore current theory and practice in Alternative Dispute Resolution in an Australian health care context. The student's learning is extended and applied to addressing disputes in the health care environment which impact on nursing and midwifery work and the ability to provide quality, person-centred care. The subject provides the student with the opportunity to develop a project (based on the application of contemporary knowledge about leadership) concerning an issue in their work setting, and to demonstrate the application of leadership principles and practices to make an impact upon nursing or midwifery practice and clinical outcomes for patients or clients.

Learning Outcomes

• explore the major theoretical foundations of leadership in nursing and midwifery;
• demonstrate the ability to develop a project that addresses an identified issue in the health care setting which requires sound leadership to effect positive change;
• design a project in the health care setting related to the need for effective leadership which demonstrates the student's knowledge and practice of sound leadership, using evidence-based research skills.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.