Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy Information Online Application
The Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy (GNLA) is an eighteen-month, mentored leadership experience for nurses. Multilevel learning is achieved through content in leadership, self-assessment and development, interprofessional team development, project development, management and evaluation, and dissemination of lessons learned as well as project outcomes.
The focus of the Academy is the mentee’s personal leadership journey with a project that serves as a platform for enacting leadership competency and skill, a community mentor to support development of leadership skills, and a faculty facilitator to assist the mentor and mentee.
- Each GNLA applicant (mentee) develops a project centered on improving the quality of health care for older adults and their families through geriatric nursing practice. The mentee is expected to form an interdisciplinary team in her/his practice setting or community to address this geriatric nursing issue.
- Each applicant identifies a mentor in the same setting/community to provide guidance and support throughout the program and project. The ideal mentor can act as a role model, sounding board, and guide, and it is preferable that the mentor not have a supervisory relationship with the mentee. The mentor should be someone who is familiar with the practice setting, agrees to champion, advise and advocate for the nurse and demonstrates the leadership characteristics required of a mentor. (See Section 2 "Selecting Your Mentor").
- A GNLA faculty facilitator will be assigned to each mentee/mentor pair and will assist with personal leadership development, team development and project planning, implementation and evaluation. The faculty are nationally known experts in geriatric healthcare and organizational development.
Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy Information and Online Application Guidelines
Purpose
The purpose of the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy is to develop the leadership skills of geriatric nurses in positions of influence in a variety of health care settings. The program will enable them to lead interprofessional teams to improve the quality of health care for older adults and their families. The Leadership Academy provides learning experiences that prepare and position the individual to influence health and practice outcomes.
Objectives
Upon completion of the Leadership Academy experience, the nurse will be able to:
- Create and effectively lead an interprofessional team to improve geriatric healthcare practice outcomes
- Influence geriatric healthcare practices within a variety of settings
- Improve geriatric health outcomes through leadership and enactment of evidence based care
- Disseminate "lessons learned" in leadership development to improve health and care of older adults
The GNLA is a collaboration between the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International and the John A. Hartford Centers for Geriatric Nurse Excellence and is open to all nurses (service, administration, education, or research) who focuses on the health of older adults and their families.
Who is eligible?
- Application Requirements. Nurses with a BSN or higher degree and demonstrated knowledge and competence in geriatric nursing, including but not limited to clinicians, managers, researchers, faculty, and nurses working in professional organizations and health policy.
- Internet Access. Every participant must be computer-proficient and have, at minimum, Windows 95 or higher internet access throughout the program.
Selecting your Mentor
Applicants are encouraged to identify a mentor from their institution and/or community who is not a direct supervisor and demonstrates the following leadership characteristics:
- Willing to invest time and expertise in your leadership journey (knowledgeable and supportive)
- Able to open doors and assist with navigating organization structure and culture (generous and resourceful)
- Willing to take risks (open to new ideas)
- Able to listen, provide feedback, dialogue and challenge you (skilled in communication and feedback)
When selecting a mentor, also consider experiences as a mentor; the successes of previous mentees; scope of leadership influence, and geriatric health expertise.
Program Activities
Group Activities:
- Four-day leadership workshop for mentors and mentees;
- Monthly on-line learning activities and discussion groups
- Two one-day facilitated site visits by faculty facilitator with participant/mentor and project team;
- Three to four day project implementation/evaluation workshop
- Project presentation at the Sigma Theta Tau International Biennial Convention in 2011.
Participant Activities:
- Set leadership goals that are acceptable to the mentor and GNLA;
- Develop and complete individualized leadership development plan with guidance from the mentor and Leadership Academy faculty;
- Secure support, including time and resources, of participant’s agency/organization/institution;
- Set and complete project goals that are measurable, achievable within the 18-month time frame, and acceptable to mentor, institution/organization and GNLA.
Continuing Education
Contact hours can be earned during the eighteen-month long program. The contact hours will be assigned by Sigma Theta Tau International which is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission to provide continuing education for nurses.
Timeline
| 14 March 2008 |
Call for Applications |
| 11:59 (PDT) on 11 April 2008 |
Deadline for completing the online applications |
| 7 May 2008 |
Notification of Acceptance |
| 25-29 June 2008 |
Leadership workshop (4 full days) |
| Sept. - Oct. 2008 |
Faculty Facilitator Site Visit I |
| March 2009 |
Workshop II: Project implementation/evaluation workshop (3 full days) |
| June - July 2009 |
Faculty Facilitator Site Visit |
| September 2009 |
Project dissemination plans completed |
| October 2009 |
Final report due |
| November 2009 |
Sigma Theta Tau International Biennial Convention - Indianapolis, IN |
Financial Considerations
Anticipated Costs
Registration fee: $500
Travel to Workshop I: Portland, Oregon
Travel to Workshop II: Phoenix, AZ
Travel to present poster at STTI Convention: Airfare, lodging, meals, and conference registration
Costs covered by GNLA: The GNLA will cover the costs of your lodging and meals at the two workshops.
Recommended sources for financial assistance include: employers, civic organizations, hospital auxiliaries, government agencies, community and professional foundations, professional organizations and Sigma Theta Tau chapters.
Additional activities included in the individualized plan may increase expenses associated with participating in the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy.
Selection Criteria
The review panel will use the following criteria to review applications.
All Applicants will provide:
- Goals consistent with the objectives of the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy
- Well-defined personal leadership goals that promote the development of individual leadership skills
- Well-defined leadership project plan, with clear articulation of the Geriatric health issue being addressed by the project.
- Outcomes that are achievable in the time frame of the program
- Evidence of the applicant's ability to achieve the goals (flexibility, focus, resourcefulness, and effective written and verbal communication)
- Evidence of applicant's ability to provide the time needed to achieve the defined goals during the eighteen months of the program while continuing employment
- The desire and commitment for self development and affecting change in geriatric practice
- Demonstrated willingness to serve as a spokesperson for geriatric nursing and GNLA
Agency/Organization/Institution (A/O/I) will provide:
- Support of the applicant's agency/organization/institution for participation in the Leadership Academy
- Support in the attainment of the identified project goals (time, resources, etc.)
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