I. Course Title: Leadership in Nursing
II. Course Number: NURS 453
III. Credit Hours: 3 credits
IV. Prerequisites: NURS 443, NURS 444, NURS 448
Corequisites: NURS 451, NURS 454
V. Course Description:
This course focuses on the major leadership and professional development skills necessary
for professional practice, including leadership style, management and leadership theories,
change, quality management, fiscal and economic issues, personnel management, legal
and ethical issues, healthcare organizations and policy, professionalism, personal
nursing philosophy, political action, career development, and historical influences
on nursing today.
VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:
Emphasis is placed on the following concepts/theories:
1. Nursing leadership
a. Nature of organizations
b. Leadership/management skills
c. Time management/quality management
d. Managing and initiating change
e. Decision making/problem solving
f. Group process/team building
g. Budgeting/finances
h. Recruiting/selecting staff
i. Conflict management
j. Human resource management skills
k. Performance appraisal/personnel problems
l. Delegation
m. Motivation/mentoring
n. Customer relations
2. Professional Dimensions
a. Professionalism/professional development
b. Nursing history
c. Ethical decision making
d. Legal aspects of professional nursing
e. Public policy/economics
f. Political action
g. Career development
h. Nursing Regulations of the Code of Virginia
i. Recognition and intervention in known or suspected incidences of abuse, neglect,
and exploitation of children or elderly and incapacitated adults.
j. Patient rights
k. Bioterrorism
l. 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:
The course objectives and topical content of this Level 4 nursing course are derived
from the Radford University School of Nursing’s philosophy and conceptual framework.
This course facilitates achievement of the Radford University School of Nursing program
objectives, the American Association of Colleges of nursing (AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate
Nursing Education, and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) behavioral
competencies. Additionally, course content represents areas covered on standardized
achievement examinations and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Current research, advanced nursing
theory, and evidence based clinical practice recommendation aid in content development
and course design.
Upon 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
Review and Approval
February 2011, Kim Carter, Director
March 2021, Iris Mullins, Director