Building from within: identifying leadership competencies for future navy nurse executives

Nurs Adm Q. 2008 Jul-Sep;32(3):216-25. doi: 10.1097/01.NAQ.0000325179.09838.13.

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to forecast the relevant competencies and important skills, knowledge, and abilities (SKAs) for Navy nurse executives in the next 5 to 10 years. Using 2 iterations, Wave I and Wave II, of the Delphi technique, 6 competency domains emerged: business management, executive leadership, professional development, global awareness and interoperability, communications, and personnel management. For Wave I, 38 (19%) of 200 nurses identified what they considered to be the 5 most relevant competencies and skills, knowledge, and abilities. Reviewed by an expert panel, the results were used to develop the Wave II questionnaire to determine SKA importance ratings. Using the same respondent pool, 93 (47%) of the 200 nurses rated 100 SKA items. The top 3 rated SKAs were as follows: "Maintains the utmost integrity: has the trust of all members inside and outside of the organization," "Communication skills: ability to communicate in all forms," and "Ability to lead and mentor junior personnel." The Cronbach coefficient alpha was used to assess internal consistency. All results were above the recommended and acceptable level of .70. The results will provide the foundation for a leadership education continuum enabling the critical link among educational offerings, role-based experiences, timely mentoring, and specific career milestones.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Commerce / education
  • Commerce / organization & administration
  • Communication
  • Delphi Technique
  • Education, Nursing, Continuing / organization & administration
  • Forecasting
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Job Description
  • Leadership
  • Mentors
  • Military Nursing* / education
  • Military Nursing* / organization & administration
  • Naval Medicine
  • Needs Assessment / organization & administration*
  • Nurse Administrators* / education
  • Nurse Administrators* / organization & administration
  • Nurse Administrators* / psychology
  • Nurse's Role*
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Personnel Management
  • Professional Competence / standards*
  • Staff Development / organization & administration
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States