By Matthew Newton, DNP, CRNA, National Lead CRNA, CRH Anesthesia
Nursing Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are increasingly excelling in leadership positions within healthcare, driven by their extensive clinical experience and deep understanding of patient care. As healthcare systems face rising patient acuity and resource strains, these APPs, including Nurse Practitioners and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, are stepping into critical roles that expand their scopes of practice and offer new leadership opportunities.
One of the primary reasons Nursing APPs are so effective in leadership is their years of experience and hands-on involvement with high-acuity patients. This experience gives them a unique perspective that bridges the gap between clinical work and corporate leadership. Unlike traditional administrative leaders, nursing APPs bring a practical understanding of patient care, which allows them to create policies and interventions that are both cost-conscious and evidence-based.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) serves as the cornerstone of the nursing profession. EBP emphasizes delivering high-quality care based on the most current and robust research rather than relying solely on tradition or personal belief. This approach encourages continual learning through gathering, synthesizing, and applying research findings. The impact of EBP extends beyond individual patient care, influencing administrative decisions, reducing healthcare costs, and improving clinical outcomes.
A study by Välimäki et al. underscores the significant impact of evidence-based leadership interventions by nurses, demonstrating that such practices can markedly improve nurse performance, organizational outcomes, and patient care. This trend aligns with the growing number of nursing APPs assuming leadership roles, where their direct patient care experience equips them with the insight needed to implement system-wide improvements.
The public’s trust in nurses—consistently ranking them among the top three most trusted professions for the past 23 years—further underscores the value of nursing leadership. With over three million registered nurses nationwide, many advancing into leadership positions, the influence of nursing APPs on the future of healthcare is undeniable.
As patient advocates and frontline caregivers, nursing APPs are uniquely positioned to lead healthcare organizations into a future that prioritizes patient outcomes, efficiency, and evidence-based practices. Their leadership enhances quality of care while ensuring healthcare systems are better prepared to meet the challenges of modern medicine.
References
- Välimäki, M., Hu, S., Lantta, T., et al. The impact of evidence-based nursing leadership in healthcare settings: a mixed-methods systematic review.
BMC Nursing. 2024;23(1):1–16.
doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02096-4
