In 1886, Florence Nightingale said, "We do not teach what we preach, but what we are" (McDonald, 2009, p. 862). This quote is one of many words of wisdom from Florence Nightingale that still hold true today. So often staff learns most from what they see other staff do, not what they hear other staff say. One of the responsibilities of the nursing professional development (NPD) specialist is to serve as that role model: doing, not just saying, the right things. A role model is a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated. They possess qualities that we would like to have, and we try to emulate them. They make us want to be better at what we do. They inspire us, motivate us, and encourage us to try a little harder to be a better nurse or educator. They help us realize our potential. They influence us just by who they are, and how they are in the world. Role models are not perfect, but they have worked through issues and been successful. We often think of role models in relation to children seeking role modeling from adults. But adults also look to role models. Staff are watching you: how you act, what you do, how you think, and what you say. We tend to model the behavior of individuals whose actions seem to be rewarded. We model behavior that is accepted in our department or organization. As an NPD specialist, you serve as a role model for all nursing staff and for other NPD specialists. Being a role model is an important job, and everyone has the capability to be a positive role model.
The Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice (American Nurses Association & National Nursing Staff Development Organization, 2010) defines the NPD specialist as "a registered nurse with expertise in nursing education who influences professional role competence and professional growth of nurses in a variety of settings" (p. 4). The standards list leadership responsibilities of the NPD specialist, which includes "influencer of others for positive change," and they specifically call out "role model" (p. 11). The staff will immediately notice if there is dissonance between what the NPD specialist tells them to do and what they see the NPD specialist does. This may be an even bigger problem for newer staff who do not have the experience to determine the best action. They may well be exposed to that dissonance on their unit, and the unit staff need to be aware of what the newer staff has been taught and adhere to the same standards.
Robert K. Merton, credited with establishing sociology as a legitimate field, is also credited with coining the term "role model" (Rourke, 2003). The term "role model" first appeared in a Columbia study of the socialization of medical students and became a widely popular theory in sociology. Merton observed that individuals compare themselves with reference groups of people who occupy the social role to which the individual aspires. An example of this is the way fans idolize and imitate professional athletes or rock stars. Merton hypothesized that social status involves multiple roles, not just a single role. A nursing student plays not only the role of a student with the teacher but other roles such as those relating to other students (peers), physicians, nurses, social workers, medical technicians, and other team members. So many people serve as role models in the work world for an individual staff member. NPD specialists are role models whether they intend to be or not, whether they know they are or not, good, bad or indifferent. Staff look to the NPD specialist as a person to imitate or not.
CHARACTERISTICS OF POSITIVE, EFFECTIVE ROLE MODELS
There are many characteristics or qualities of positive role models found in literature. I counted about 40, but I have boiled them down to my top 10.
1. Passion. One of the most import characteristics is passion for what you do. If you have passion for your job, you are able to inspire others because passion and enthusiasm are contagious. Share your passion. Encourage others to pursue their passions. Lead by example.
2. Integrity. Another important characteristic is integrity. This includes such actions as admitting mistakes, being an authentic and genuine person, and giving others credit where credit is due, especially in public. It also includes treating people fairly, setting clear values, follow through, keeping promises, praising in public and correcting in private, and knowing your limitations. Walk the talk and be humble as there is always someone smarter, better, faster, or more knowledgeable than you.
3. Relationship focused. Being relationship focused is another important characteristic of a role model. This includes accepting others as they are, listening to them without judgment, and clearly communicating expectations. It also includes interacting with others, showing respect for differences, and being inclusive rather than exclusive. Individuals who are relationship focused demonstrate concern for others, show a genuine ability to relate to others different from themselves, and see the significance and value in others. They also share with others how they make the world a better place.
4. Excellence. Demonstrate excellence in your work by being knowledgeable and well-rounded, hardworking, and pioneering; push the boundaries. Be an early adopter. Employ self-reflection both in general learning and on the impact of your role-modeling efforts.
5. Positive choice making. Model positive choice making, think aloud at how you arrived at a solution, and explain the rationale behind your decisions.
6. Demonstrate confidence. Demonstrating strength and confidence draws admirers. Believe in yourself, believe in others, and provide encouragement. Show self-confidence.
7. Optimistic. Believe that others can grow and change. See the positive in people and give them the benefit of the doubt. If you show that you believe in someone, they will be able to begin to see the possibilities in themselves.
8. Resilience/ability to overcome obstacles. Everyone will fail at some time. Everyone will have to overcome obstacles. Learn from your failures. Demonstrate perseverance.
9. Generous. Be available and accessible to others and help others as they need. Be generous with your time and attention.
10. Community focused. Be involved outside your job and contribute to the community and to the profession.
EXAMPLES
As I write this column, I spent some time reflecting on those who have been my role models throughout the years and the impact they have had on my career. My mother was my first role model, because she always believed I could do or be anything I wanted. She encouraged me to pursue my dreams, even though they were not what she hoped for me. She was a single mother, raising two children on a dietician's salary, and felt that nurses worked too hard for too little money. She was my primary child/adult role model. However, as I studied nursing, Florence Nightingale and other nurses from history became my role models, because of their service, dedication, social responsibility, inclusion, advocacy, creativity, and education focus all while overcoming great obstacles. My first head nurse, Mary Bonella, was an especially strong role model, and without her, I would never have made it through my first year of staff nursing. She took me under her wing, and taught me what it means to be a nurse. A little later on in my career, the nurses in the inservice education department (forerunner of the Professional Development Department) became my role models. I wanted to emulate them, and ultimately I followed in their footsteps. They had a major impact on me setting the direction of my career.
As previously mentioned, you are a role model whether or not you choose to be one. In all probability, you already play that role for someone and may not even be aware of that. You don't have to be famous, a brilliant scientist, a published author, or a rock star to be a role model for other adults. In some organizations, select people have been called out as role models, but even if you do not have that official designation, people look to you for how they should be in the workplace.
RESULTS OF EFFECTIVE ROLE MODELING
Effective role models boost the self-esteem of others and inspire improved performance. They encourage people to achieve their goals in spite of difficulties. They help them develop successful work habits, and help them improve their problem-solving skills. Role models help others be successful at work. A workplace study conducted by Brown and Trevino "shows that having adult role models, then, directly impacts not only how you perceive yourself but, just as importantly, how others perceive you. If those around you have questionable ethics, and seem to be getting away with it, you'll eventually unlearn even the most morally upright values you acquired as a child" (Whithourne, 2013, p. 1). But if those childhood ethics are upheld in the workplace through positive role modeling, they will continue. Role models help create a positive work culture where all staff feel the impact of their efforts. They inspire trust, have a higher rate of job satisfaction, and help others to have the same.
Leaders also serve as role models. Effective leaders pay attention to the team as well as the individual. They create the kind of environment where people learn from each other and change and improve over time. They support staff in their growth and development and recognize positive behaviors.
Having adult role models at work directly impacts not only how you perceive yourself, but also how you perform in the workplace. Positive modeling is associated with a number of other positive outcomes. For instance, employees who are mentored by those they consider role models tend to show higher levels of learning at work. Workers also tend to have greater levels of mobility, being able to move up the work ladder more often and faster when mentored in a positive manner. Furthermore, role models themselves may get a great deal of job satisfaction from being helpful, providing effective instruction, and knowing that others perceive them in a positive light. I encourage you to think of someone who has served as a role model for you. What were the characteristics that made them an effective role model? Reflect on them. Then work toward developing those characteristics in yourself as you work with nursing staff and new NPD specialists. In closing, Albert Schweitzer said that "Example is not the main thing in influencing others; it's the only thing" (Cohen, 2015, p. 14).
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