Six Easy Steps to Launch your Leadership U Experience
How does the NSNA Leadership U work?
From the basic skills needed to participate in shared-governance meetings at the school chapter level to the honor of serving on the NSNA Board of Directors the NSNA Leadership U offers endless possibilities to develop professionalism in students. The approach used must conform with academic and administrative policies and traditions of the specific nursing program. Here’s a step-by-step approach to incorporating NSNA’s leadership U in your program’s curriculum:
Step One: The nursing program must be an official constituent of the NSNA. However, if the school is not an official constituent, it is possible that a student who joins NSNA and initiates an NSNA chapter, is eligible to participate. Students must be NSNA members to participate.
Step Two: Students who wish to participate should take the initiative to explore how NSNA participation can either qualify for credit as part of required or elective course work or independent study in the nursing program. The student must then approach the chapter advisor for guidance on how to earn credit for NSNA leadership participation. Faculty may also present this as an option for the fulfillment of course requirements.
Step Three: Once the proper connection is made between those involved (i.e. student, faculty, administration, chapter advisor), and there is agreement that credit will be awarded for participation in the NSNA Leadership U, a formal meeting is scheduled for the student and a faculty mentor (this could be the NSNA chapter faculty advisor). At this first meeting, the student and mentor need to review the course requirements and the NSNA Leadership U materials; establish objectives; determine how leadership guided learning will proceed (assign preceptors if available); select appropriate reading and other learning materials; and develop a written plan to meet the objectives through NSNA participation.
Step Four: Validate that learning has taken place. At this time, validation methods must be determined by the faculty. Options may include having the student keep a detailed journal, develop a portfolio, create a power-point presentation for the class and for faculty, or write an essay that can be submitted for publication. Evaluation of performance based on the preceptor or mentor’s observations is another appropriate option to determine if the student can actually demonstrate their mastery of the objectives.
Step Five: Complete the NSNA Leadership U Certificate Request Form and submit it to NSNA. The faculty member will receive the designation of NSNA Adjunct Faculty. NSNA must then be notified that the objectives and course requirements have been satisfactorily completed and that credit was awarded.
Step Six: When you are ready to graduate, NSNA provides a certificate of recognition acknowledging the student’s participation in the NSNA Leadership U. The certificate is presented at the NSNA Annual Awards Ceremony or can be mailed to a faculty member to present to the student at the appropriate time (i.e. during pinning ceremony).
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