LO1 Critically appraise the importance of political awareness for nurses and the role nurses play in influencing policy in relation to healthcare delivery

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

LO1	Critically appraise the importance of political awareness for nurses and the role nurses play in influencing policy in relation to healthcare delivery	Assessment 1
LO2	Critically evaluate leadership theories, skills and practices and the importance of effective leadership in healthcare	Assessment 1
LO3	Critically analyse the concept of team working and identify a range of performance strategies required for team effectiveness, ensuring risk aversion and effective risk management	Assessment 1
LO4	Critically appraise the process of transitioning from student nurse to registered healthcare professional and reflect on own development needs	Assessment 1

Assessment Brief

The assignment is a 5,000-word essay. The essay should critically analyse the contribution of leadership relating to a change identified in clinical practice. This can either involve review of your own leadership skills or your observations of leadership of an individual that you have encountered.  A key requirement is to incorporate relevant theory to critically analyse and explain practice.

Guidance Notes:

The approach you take will vary according to your individual style and the change in practice you choose to focus on. However it is expected that your essay will include: -

• An introduction that justifies your choice of change in practice.
• Critical reflection and evaluation of your own strengths and weakness as a leader, identifying actions which will help realise your individual leadership potential, and a tailored action plan according to the change in practice.
• Critical analysis of leadership theories and how they could be applied to facilitate the identified change.
• Clear evaluation of alternative methods/strategies/styles.
• Influence of political and ethical issues on leadership in relation to the change
• Critical reflection on how the leadership style utilised influenced/could influence the outcome of changes in practice.
• Appraisal and reflection on your role in this change process, working in a team, how your leadership behaviour may influence team effectiveness and risk management.
• An evidence-based account incorporating a range of literature to support the discussion of the leadership of the change.
• Finally, apply this learning to demonstrate how this informs your own development as you prepare to make your transition from student nurse to registered nurse.

The identified change in practice need not imply undertaking full registrant responsibility. It is about identifying a challenging area of care processes which you have encountered, or the introduction of a new method of service delivery you participated in on a clinical placement e.g. patient, environment, equipment, protocol, and procedural care. Then as a leader or observation of a leader, how this was addressed via learned leadership and management approaches. 

Remember that depth of investigation and critical analysis is crucial to writing at level 6.  Please feel free to seek advice from or discuss ideas with the module tutors. You must meet all the Learning Outcomes to pass the assignment.

Below is a guide as to how you may wish to structure and what you may wish to include in your essay in order to meet the Learning Outcomes.

Introduction:

• Introduce your assignment with focus and aim.
• Provide background of leadership.
• Introduce the change – this should just be about one paragraph. What is the change? Why was it/does it need to be implemented? Provide evidence to support this.

Main Body:

LO1 – Critically appraise the importance of political awareness for nurses and the role nurses play in influencing policy in relation to healthcare delivery

• Influence of political and ethical issues in leadership
• NHS polices (e.g. Long-Term Plan/FYFV), strategy and influential power balance
• Evidence based approach to practice
• Critically consider the nursing role to initiate/implement & influence policy – Why should nurses get involved in policy development? Do they? How? If not, why not? How can barriers to involvement be overcome?
• Critically analyse polices in relation to the proposed change or in relation to leadership
• Make sure you apply all concepts to the proposed change to focus the discussion.

LO2 – Critically evaluate leadership theories, skills and practice and the importance of effective leadership in healthcare

• Reflect and evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses as a leader (Myers-Briggs personality assessment tool) – remember to write in the third person.
• What kind of personality are you? (Myers-Briggs)
• Critically explore leadership theories – can choose three theories and critique in relation to the chosen change
• Explore leadership styles, their strengths and weaknesses and how they enhance/hinder outcomes
• Consider how a change management model could be applied e.g. Lewin’s/Kotter’s. LO1 Critically appraise the importance of political awareness for nurses and the role nurses play in influencing policy in relation to healthcare delivery
• Make sure you apply all concepts and theories to your proposed change to focus the discussion.

LO3 – Critically analyse the concept of teamworking and identify a range of performance strategies required for team effectiveness, ensuring risk aversion and effective risk management

• Appraise and reflect on your own role in this change process – Use Belbin’s approach and apply it to the chosen change
• How does leadership behaviour influence team effectiveness and risk management?
• Consider how to support team involvement during the change process
• The NHS Leadership model – critically analyse
• Critically explore how leaders manage risk during the change process including risk management/risk aversion strategies.
• Make sure you apply all concepts to your proposed change The assignment is a 5,000-word essay. The essay should critically analyse the contribution of leadership relating to a change identified in clinical practice.

LO4 – Critically appraise the process of transitioning from student to registered nurse and reflect on your own development needs

• What needs to change to ensure you are an effective leader? Discuss transitioning from student to registered nurse
• How are you going to achieve this e.g. PDP? SWOT analysis?
• What are the strategies to overcome, reality shock?
• Resilience 
• Mentoring and supervision – apply critical analysis to this process
• You must include a SMART, PDP and SWOT analysis as appendices – must be in relation to leadership & management
• Make sure you apply all concepts to the proposed change

Conclusion:

• Summarise your assignment
• Are there any important lessons or points to take on board?
• What can be taken into consideration for future practice and in relation to the proposed change

Reference List – ensure following Harvard referencing

Appendices – Must include a PDP & SWOT analysis