New Deakin course highlights importance of leadership in nursing

Deputy Head of Deakin's School for Nursing and Midwifery Professor Nikki Phillips said the boutique course was specially designed for high achieving individuals who were motivated to take leadership roles in the nursing profession.

As part of the core leadership units in the course, students participate in mentored learning experiences, providing the opportunity to work alongside clinical nurse leaders at partner hospitals, as well as the School's renowned research professors and educators in order to enhance their leadership potential.

"Students are also engaged in planning sessions in which they teach their peers, and we know that teaching others can be really critical in enhancing their own learning too," Professor Phillips said.

The inaugural cohort from Deakin's Bachelor of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) recently graduated from the three-year course with a unique focus on leadership.

Graduating student Eamon Tuke received the HESTA Award for Excellence in the Bachelor of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) at Deakin's recent School of Nursing and Midwifery Annual Student Awards.

Eamon, 22, said he always envisioned a future in healthcare but it wasn't until he travelled to a remote indigenous community in 2014 with a group of nurses that he decided to pursue a career in nursing.

"It felt like the real difference we were making wasn't just in the medications or the treatments being delivered, but in putting a smile on a kid's face or being there to listen to someone's struggles," he said.

"Nursing seemed like a way to combine my interest in healthcare with the chance to help those less fortunate. I'm not sure what awaits me in my career but I'm hoping to work overseas in disaster relief if I get the opportunity."

Eamon, now undertaking his graduate year at Peninsula Health, said he decided to take up the Clinical Leadership course because he recognised it as the first course of its kind, teaching an aspect of nursing he saw as essential.

"From a leadership point of view the most important skill I learnt was that different situations require different styles of leadership," he said.

"The type of leader I want to be is one that leads by example and recognises that leadership doesn't require an official role but can start from the very first day on the job.

"As nurses we need to show leadership by advocating for people in our care, whether that's by using a new evidence-based intervention, implementing strategies that minimise errors, or following up patients' concerns with the medical team.

"Leaders in nursing are part of a wider team involving other health professionals, hospital administrators and patients and their families.

"Good leadership is important because it requires someone to work with all these different people with often different priorities and perspectives while still being able to provide the best possible care."