Isabella DeMarco

Semester Reflection

This semester, I have built on knowledge gained in my previous courses and developed a

deeper understanding of the healthcare delivery system, delegation, prioritization, and leadership.

I gained an understanding of the primary differences between leadership and management and

the characteristics of an effective leader. I developed a deeper understanding of the role of the

nurse manager and learned that nurse managers must be effective leaders who are able to

delegate, handle conflict, budget, and oversee the unit whilst also facilitating effective

communication and implementing necessary change. A primary job of the nurse manager

includes quality improvement. Quality management involves various ways to prevent problems,

process improvement, identify failures, and execute all of this in an efficient manner. The quality

improvement system is a preventative approach to solving problems in the hopes of yielding

positive outcomes and terminating any negative outcomes. Nurse managers must also implement

effective, safe delegation. Delegation is a leadership skill that is most effectively developed with

time and experience. It involves the transfer of responsibility to another person, giving them the

opportunity to expand their own role. While new graduate nurses often struggle with delegation,

I feel that the skills I have gained in this course will guide me to be an effective delegator in my

professional career. After establishing an understanding of how the nurse manager operates as a

leader, I identified five traits that I believe every leader should have: character, humility, candor,

compassion, and confidence. I will be able to utilize these traits in my future and allow them to

guide me in clinical decision making should I become a leader. The knowledge I gained in this

course will assist me in my transition to professional practice and have a developed

understanding of the roles of my colleagues. I will utilize this information on a daily basis to
deliver the highest quality patient care and foster a healthy, supportive work environment that

involves a mutual understanding between me and my coworkers.