EVIDENCE OF GROWTH:
UNIVERSITY LEVEL:
UNIVERSITY OF MARY
Servant Leadership
"Service is at the heart of the University of Mary’s mission. A life of service is transformative and encourages us to see beyond ourselves. It fosters empathy, develops us into stronger leaders, students, peers, and family members." (University of Mary website).
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The University of Mary's mission and commitment to servant leadership are intertwined with my personal ideals. I feel called to serve those I lead and those I care for throughout my career.
Benedictine Values
Community
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Striving together for the common good and growing in relationship with God, one another, and self.
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“Let all things be common to all.” (Rule of Benedict 33)
Hospitality
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Receiving others as Christ with warmth and attentiveness.
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“Let all be received as Christ.” (Rule of Benedict 53)
Moderation
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Honoring all of God’s creation and living simply with balance and gratitude.
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“Regard all things as sacred and do everything with moderation.” (Rule of Benedict 31)
Prayer
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Attending to the mystery and sacredness of life, abiding in the divine presence, listening and responding to God.
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“Listen intently to holy readings. Give yourself frequently to prayer.” (Rule of Benedict 4)
Respect for Persons
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Recognizing the image of God in each person and honoring each one in their giftedness and limitations.
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“Honor everyone and never do to another what you do not want done to yourself.” (Rule of Benedict 4)
Service​
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Meeting the needs of others in the example of Jesus the servant leader.
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“The members should serve one another.” (Rule of Benedict 35)
Respect for Persons
Early in my life, I was taught to respect all others. This was a lesson that has stayed with me throughout my career. You never know what someone else is going through, so kindness matters. Every day we have the ability to positively or negatively impact those around us. Choosing to respect others and their differences are foundational to my personal values.
Service
Since a young age I felt a call to serve. I have always gravitated toward being a "helper", so it is no surprise that my career path took me on a path of service. While early phases of my career focused on serving patients and their families, I now also focus serving on those I lead. I have a passion for supporting people and teams that provide high-quality care. I will always have a passion for direct care, but I have learned that through effective leadership I am able to have a greater impact.
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"Great leaders view their role as an act of service, not an avenue for authority and attention"
~Adam Grant
Influential Values
University of Mary Graduate Competencies
The University of Mary's Mission, Vision, and Values offer distinction to the education, preparation, and formation of graduates. Unique University Graduate Competencies and Graduate Nursing Program Outcomes have been formulated not only in accordance with national accreditation standards and professional nursing specialty standards, but also significantly influenced by the University of Mary Mission, Vision, and Values. The University Graduate Competencies and Program Outcomes identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities an individual from a University of Mary graduate nursing program will possess upon degree completion. The four measured competencies include communication, moral courage, professional distinction and scholarship.
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Communication
Graduates demonstrate excellence in communication. Students are engaging and effective communicators demonstrated by employing collaborative dialogue and adapting language to resonate with multiple audiences and/or cultures. Their communication reflects a strong command of their field(s) due to the accurate application of disciplinary standards and infusion of disciplinary frameworks and evidence into oral and written works. ​
This project taught me how to effectively communicate as an advocate for healthcare in the legal sector.
NUR 648 Healthcare Law Presentation:​
This group project allowed me to collaborate with two other students regarding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the legal drivers and barriers associated with HRT.
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​Graduates clarify, support, or defend what is right and true, whether reached by faith or reason, when confronted by opposing actions or viewpoints in order to serve an understanding of the truth and to promote a culture of human dignity, justice, and virtue. Students, motivated by serving truth, evaluate and respond to actions or viewpoints opposed to what is right or true. Based on faith or reason, they clarify, support, or defend truth and a culture of human dignity, justice, and virtue.
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Ethical principles are critical to preservation of the dignity of the human person and the integrity of research practices. This assignment was a very valuable tool for analyzing the importance of ethics when obtaining research data from vulnerable subjects by and the means that Capote used to get these people to give him information.
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​​NUR 510 Cultural PowerPoint:
Allowed the student to identify a Cultural Practice of a specific population and its direct association with health. I chose to focus on sauna in Finland. The focus on health and wellness in Finland was a compelling experience.
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​Graduates are servant leaders committed to excellence in their professions and communities. Students integrate knowledge and skills in the applicable discipline for professional service and/or contributions to society. They integrate applicable ethical principles and synthesize supporting reasons/evidence for decision-making. Students pursue the common good by prioritizing the needs of, and cultivating the growth of, others above their own circumstances and aspirations. ​
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NUR 614 Compendium of Leadership Topics:
Built a broader foundation of understanding related to organizational climate and culture, communication and emotional Intelligence, conflict resolution, fiscal responsibility and sources of funding, influence versus power and leadership and management, and innovation, systems thinking, change management.​​​​​​
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Graduates conduct research or evidence-based practice to develop degree appropriate knowledge of scholarship. Students display the skills and dispositions essential to effectively conduct evidence-based practice or research and produce scholarship. They develop a professional philosophy grounded in scholarship.
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This project allowed the nurse leader, in collaboration with other students, an opportunity to complete a robust evidence-based project including IRB application approval. The project serves as a culmination of the content and learning achieved by the student throughout the graduate program.
NUR 601 Internal and External Data Needs:
When faced with decision making and prioritizing of resources (human, time, financial, physical, etc.) quality nurse leaders will require data to guide the direction they choose to support. This assignment highlighted the importance of using tangible and appropriate data in decision-making.
Moral Courage
Scholarship
Professional Distinction
Influence on Leadership
As a 2004 graduate of the University of Mary, the Benedictine Values have been engrained in my moral foundation for most of my career. I am honored and consider it a privilege to continue in my calling as a servant leader upon completion of my MSN/MBA degrees.
Plans for Growth
Upon completion of my MSN/MBA degree, I aspire to pursue an advanced leadership position in healthcare. I will also continue on my formal education through the University of Mary as I work toward a terminal degree in the Nursing Organizational Leadership doctorate program.
