Student Research: Sandy Manuel - Nurse Clinician Leadership Development in One of Canada’s Largest Tertiary Hospitals.
The School of Leadership Studies would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sandy Manuel on the completion of a Master’s Thesis titled, Nurse Clinician Leadership Development in One of Canada’s Largest Tertiary Hospitals.
This thesis is available through RRU’s library here [https://hdl.handle.net/10613/29398]
We asked Sandy a few questions about this research and this is what they said:
What are some key takeaways from your thesis that would be helpful for other leaders?
Nurse clinicians are navigating an increasingly complex healthcare system, which underscores the need for leadership development opportunities that equip them with the tools and resources required to excel in their roles. Healthcare leaders can play a pivotal role in supporting nurse clinician leadership growth by actively engaging them in organizational change processes. My study recommendations include several strategies to support nurse clinician leadership development. Although these recommendations emerged from a specific context, they could be adopted by many healthcare organizations seeking to strengthen nurse clinician leadership capacity.
How is the organization moving change forward based on your work?
The organization has received my thesis report, including the study recommendations and accompanying infographic, and are now exploring how to move this work forward in support of strengthening nurse clinician leadership development.
What surprised you about your experience of the thesis process?
I hadn’t anticipated how transformative the iterative nature of the thesis process would be. Each cycle of feedback and revision deepened the quality of my work, resulting in study outputs and knowledge products I’m proud of and that I believe can support my organizational partner with nurse clinician leadership development.
How are you applying lessons learned from your whole MA-Leadership journey?
The lessons from my MA-Leadership journey are shaping how I approach my new role as Lead for Special Projects with the AHS Provincial Strategies & Performance Emergency/Disaster Management team. I’m drawing on my learning in collaborative leadership, systems thinking, and purposeful inquiry as I lead complex provincial initiatives within the hospital and health‑system environment. These learnings have also helped me appreciate the incredible team I get to work with, highlighting the power of teamwork, collaboration, and shared purpose in advancing this meaningful work.