Do you have the courage to lead? Pause and reflect on this question for 1 minute. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and think about the words "courage" and "lead." If you answered yes, you likely thought about the things you had to overcome such as fear of failure, uncertainty, or lack of confidence. The definition of courage in the dictionary is "the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear." Courage is not a taught behavior but a learned one. We gain courage through the personal experiences of risk taking. Each time we face a challenge or an opportunity, we gain strength through the insights afforded by self-awareness and reflection on the lessons learned in the process. This newfound strength creates both confidence and resilience.
Leading is a verb and generates the expectation of action. John C. Maxwell said, "If you want to lead, you need to grow. Good leaders are always good learners." Immediately, we may be dissuaded with the concept of leading because growth will require time, energy, and vulnerability; hence, why it takes courage. To behave and act in a manner that inspires, supports, guides, and empowers others to move in a strategic direction requires intentionality that comes from the heart, not just the head. Involving emotions into our leadership style can create feelings of vulnerability, but when paired with strategic thinking, it can produce results without regret. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk said, "The longest journey you will ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart."
In the space of orthopaedics, now more than ever, nurses need to lead. We face challenges in healthcare delivery, with access to specialty care and the shifting of surgical procedures to outpatient arenas requiring innovation to ensure patient outcomes improve as well as sustain organizational viability. Yes, it will require you to grow and learn about clinical practice supported by evidence; about state and federal statues impacting the care of patients with musculoskeletal conditions; about regulatory agencies' national patient safety goals; about your organization's policies supporting patient care; about NAON's position statements on issues, BUT with each growth, YOU will gain the confidence to share what you have learned with others and be a catalyst for change. You can share what you have learned by contributing to a poster or podium session; or writing an article in the journal or being a reviewer; or joining a NAON committee or task force; or starting an Affiliate Chapter of NAON in your local area; or participating in local Chapter events; or by implementing and integrating best practices on your nursing unit. Your journey starts with courage.