Home fosters leadership among registered staff
Participant says focus on collaboration, communication is empowering
Monday September 27, 2010 -- Lisa Bailey
Algonquin Nursing Home is helping its registered staff enhance their leadership abilities.

Director of care Janet McNabb says all 12 registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) at the Mattawa home recently completed two online courses.

They were offered by the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS) in partnership with Silver Meridian based on a demonstration project funded by HealthForceOntario, and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.

The courses are called Excelling as a Nurse Leader, a certificate course; and Long-Term Care Orientation, respectively.

Course fees were paid by the home, which also provided workspace and flexibility for staff to complete the course.

Administrator Vala Monestime Belter says the purpose of the initiative is to ensure consistent, professional and knowledgeable leadership and that all colleagues will support and deliver the same high standard of care.

Course participants hold varying levels of experience in the field, from a newly graduated RPN to an RN of 40 years. However, McNabb notes, they all act in a supervisory, team-leading role when on the floor at the home. As well, they all have an inherent ability to lead, which was fostered through the course.

“The goal was to refresh their skill sets and/or give them new skill set applications to use in leading staff, suggesting change, going forward with change,” McNabb says.

RPN Bonita Rossetti, who has been with the home for nine years, says she gained understanding of different leadership styles, which is important to strengthening the working relationship and teamwork amongst departments and people.

Strengths and weaknesses were analyzed. In Rossetti’s case, she says she confirmed that conflict resolution is a challenge for her, but she now has good guidelines for these situations.

She also says that the program is designed to empower staff, with an emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and thinking outside of the box.

“As nurses, we try to fix everything and sometimes it’s better if our co-workers try to fix it themselves.”

Ultimately, Rossetti says, residents benefit because empowered staff gain confidence and are motivated to provide the best possible care.

“A good leader will foster teamwork and spearhead it. And a really good leader is someone who’s an excellent resource at the same time,” McNabb says.

Darlene McLaughlin, an RPN of 10 years, says she was enlightened on aspects of being a team leader. The RNAO course was also a “good refresher” on such things as expectations and obligations under the new Long-Term Care Homes Act.

“I’m more aware of legalities, the new rules coming out, and my own leadership style and what I have to do to make it better for my staff,” she says.

RN Pierrette Pilon came to Algonquin nearly a year ago. With 25 years experience largely in hospitals, she says the courses were beneficial in providing information on the long-term care setting and offering different approaches as one can “get comfortable in your ways.”

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