If you are working in an acute care setting, such as a hospital, then the easiest first step is to request a charge nurse or team lead role. Regardless of the setting, at the core of leadership is a willingness to step up when the going gets tough. Volunteering to take on the hard stuff and following through with grace and poise. Identify a project improvement that is needed for your team and bring that forward to leadership with viable solutions and follow through. Volunteer to participate on a nursing committee and engage with other nurses and leadership. Lastly, get certification in your speciality field and look for leadership classes that are offered through membership to that association. Opportunities in leadership also include precepting new hire nurses and offering to mentor new grads.
