The focus of this edition of the DNA Reporter is Nurse Leadership in the First State. I am honored to share this guest editor opportunity with Taryn Pariag, a former MSN Leadership student and Nurse Educator. This issue highlights the leader within each of us, emphasizing nurses’ significant role in innovating, leading change, and ensuring data-driven improvements in professional practice while remaining adaptable to the dynamic healthcare environment.
Within this issue, we have curated five articles offering unique perspectives and critical topics for nurse leaders. Dr. Susan Weaver opens with an insightful article addressing the evolving roles of nurses and the invaluable attributes they bring to diverse practice settings. Following this, Dr. Angela Herman introduces Systems Theory or Thinking (ST) as a framework to foster healthcare collaboration and enhance patient care, quality, and safety. Dr. Mary Gant, a Nurse Practitioner, and colleagues share the importance of nurse-driven initiatives focusing on home-based primary care access and immunization programs for adults with autism and/or intellectual disabilities. Dr. Gant reflects on her continued leadership journey and commitment to disseminating the findings of her doctoral project. Taryn and I explore nursing leadership challenges and the importance of lifelong learning in Delaware. We review key topics that have shaped our state’s nursing practice over the past year and outline the next steps for advancing professional practice. Finally, Dr. Keith Fishlock concludes with actionable guidance on succession planning, drawing from his personal leadership experiences to inspire the next generation of nurse leaders.
In closing, this edition celebrates the dedication, resilience, and innovative spirit of nurse leaders. We hope these articles spark new ideas, deepen your understanding of leadership in nursing, and inspire you to take actionable steps in your professional journey. Together, we can continue to elevate nursing practice and positively impact the communities we serve. Thank you for joining us in exploring the transformative power of nurse leadership.
Wishing you an inspiring read!
