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NURS 453

I. Course Title: Leadership in Nursing

II. Course Number: NURS 453

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: NURS 352, NURS 443, NURS 448
 
      Corequisites: NURS 451, NURS 454, NURS 457

V. Course Description:

The objectives and content of this Level 4 course facilitate achievement of the College’s program outcomes as well as the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education (AACN). Additionally, the major topics and skills covered in this course represent content covered on standardized achievement examinations and the NCLEX-RN test plan. Current research, advanced nursing theory, and evidence based clinical practice guide content development and course design. 
 
Topical Outline: 

  1. Nursing leadership 
    1. Nature of organizations 
    2. Leadership/management skills 
    3. Time management/quality management 
    4. Managing and initiating change 
    5. Decision making/problem solving 
    6. Group process/team building 
    7. Budgeting/finances 
    8. Recruiting/selecting staff 
    9. Conflict management 
    10. Human resource management skills 
    11. Performance appraisal/personnel problems 
    12. Delegation 
    13. Motivation/mentoring 
    14. Customer relations 
  2. Professional Dimensions 
    1. Professionalism/professional development 
    2. Nursing history 
    3. Ethical decision making 
    4. Legal aspects of professional nursing 
    5. Public policy/economics 
    6. Political action 
    7. Career development 
    8. Nursing Regulations of the Code of Virginia 
    9. Recognition and intervention in known or suspected incidences of   abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children or elderly and incapacitated adults. 
    10. Patient rights 
    11. Bioterrorism 
    12. Domestic violence 



VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

The following teaching strategies will be employed: lectures, seminars, discussions, audio-visuals, power point presentations, small group activities, group project presentations, web-enhanced projects, written projects, and case discussions.



VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: 

  1. Apply the nursing process in a leadership role to promote, protect, and restore clients’ holistic health. 
  2. Assume professional responsibility and accountability for implementation of standards of nursing practice and the regulations of the Code of Virginia 
  3. Apply health care and information technologies through the leadership role to enhance professional nursing practice. 
  4. Demonstrate critical thinking incorporating research findings in identifying changing health care needs of society, evaluating health care services, identifying trends that signal new directions for nursing practice within the health care delivery system, and discussing the influence of health care economics on the delivery of health care and on professional nursing practice. 
  5. Demonstrate caring through theory and evidence based nursing interventions as a leader in nursing 
  6. Implement effective written, oral and nonverbal communication skills in a nursing leadership role. 
  7. Applies the concepts of ethics and legal aspects for patient rights, prevention of patient abuse, neglect, and abandonment. 
  8. Collaborate with clients and other health professionals to provide culturally sensitive, holistic health care to individuals, families, aggregates and communities. 
  9. Assume responsibility for one’s own lifelong learning process through analysis of professionalism and implications for personal and professional development, including alternatives for achieving professional career goals and objectives, and sharing expertise with colleagues. 
  10. Exhibit leadership qualities by demonstrating knowledge of leadership and management principles related to professional nursing practice. 
  11. Participate in the legislative and policy-making process to promote the advancement of nursing and health care at the state, federal, and global level on issues relevant to health care delivery and professional nursing practice.



VIII. Assessment Measures:

May include but not limited to:

• Exams; Quizzes
• Paper
• Project, Individual or Group
• Class Participation

 

Other Course Information

N/A.

 

Review and Approval

February 2011, Kim Carter, Director

March 2021, Iris Mullins, Director

March 25, 2026

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