Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Correctional nurses fulfill many roles in the provision of health care to incarcerated individuals. The role most readily visible is health care provider, but today's nurses are also expected to fill a variety of different leadership roles. Leadership is recognized as a fundamental characteristic of nursing by the nursing organizations that set professional standards. Possessing leadership skills is thus vital to the professional correctional nurse. The first step in developing leadership skills requires introspection and contemplation. Today's nursing leaders must understand and express their core values and beliefs if they want to establish and enhance their credibility. This article explores personal inspiration and motivation and guides nurses through the process of articulating their beliefs and values to their constituents in the form of a Personal Professional Philosophy Statement.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008). The essentials of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/portals/42/publications/baccessentials08.pdf

American Nurses Association. (2013). Correctional nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). American Nurses Association.

American Nurses Association. (2015a). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements (2nd ed.). American Nurses. Association.

American Nurses Association. (2015b). Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Edition (3rd ed.). American Nurses. Association.

American Nurses Association. (2021). ANA Enterprise/2021: Honoring nurses. https://anayearofthenurse.org/

DeWitty

V. P.

, & Cowan

(2017). Leading across differences: Leadership development toolkit (5th ed.). Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Grohar-Murray

M. E.

, DiCroce

H. R.

, & Langan

J. C

. (2011). Leadership and management in nursing (4th ed.). Pearson.

Institute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. National Academies Press.

Kouzes

J. M.

, & Posner

B. Z

. (2011). Credibility: How leaders gain and lose it, why people demand it. Jossey-Bass.

10.

Kouzes

J. M.

, & Posner

B. Z

. (2012). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen in organizations (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.

11.

Levy Shankman

, Allen

S. J.

, & Haber-Curran

(2015). Emotionally intelligent leadership: A guide for students (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

12.

Patterson

S. J.

, & Radtke

J. M

. (2009). Strategic communications for nonprofit organizations: Seven steps to creating a successful plan. John Wiley & Sons.

13.

Powitzky

(2018, May 25). Great leaders are made, not born: Six strategies for becoming a better leader. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2018/05/25/great-leaders-are-made-not-born-six-strategies-for-becoming-a-better-leader/#713eda9f28b7

14.

Sinek

(2009, September 28). How great leaders inspire action [TEDxPuget Sound]. https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action

15.

Smith

M. C.

, & Parker

M. E.

(2015). Nursing theory and the discipline of nursing. In M. C. Smith & M. E. Parker (Eds.), Nursing theories and nursing practice (4th ed., pp. 3–18). F.A. Davis.

16.

Sullivan

E. J.

(2012). Becoming influential: A guide for nurses (2nd ed.). Pearson.

17.

This I Believe, Inc. (2021). A public dialogue about belief—One essay at a time. https://thisibelieve.org/