Instructions

• Select a nurse leader and make an appointment for an interview.
• Formulate five additional questions you will be asking during your leadership interview.
• Refer to the Leadership Interview Assignment Guide below and complete the interview consent form.

Instructions

Consent for interview must be attached; see under course content.

Nursing Leadership Interview Assignment Guide

You will conduct an interview (in person, telephone or virtually) with a leader relevant to the designated specialty role of choice (e.g. Nursing Director, Nursing Professor, Nurse Entrepreneur, OR the equivalent in an organization that would hire a BSN prepared nurse in your specialty.

You will incorporate both the assignment-required questions, as well as critically developed questions of your own creation. You may want to audio-tape/digitally record the interview so that you may progress through the interview in a timely manner and actively participate in the discussion (this is not possible if you are trying to write the conversation down as it occurs). You will need to obtain written permission from this leader (prior to the interview) that the interview may be audio-recorded for your use in writing the interview paper. The interview should last 30 minutes to an hour.  

The paper will begin with a brief introduction of the leader being interviewed, and will proceed to the questions asked and answers received. Additionally, the paper will need to conclude with a one (1) to two (2) page summation evaluation of the interview process. This information will address such elements as your critical analysis and evaluation of the interview process, and information about your current personal professional status and resultant plans for professional mentorship.

The paper will be written in 7th edition-Professional- APA format. This interview and resultant paper is required to be an individual effort. The paper detailing the content of the interview will need to be submitted through the course drop box by no later than due date.

Leadership Interview Assignment Guide

Introduction (Level Heading) Present an introduction to the interview conducted, including a brief biography of the interviewee and the organization represented. Explain why this individual was chosen for the interview in light of your selected nursing specialty role.

A Learning Conversation (Level Heading) State each question you posed along with the interviewee's responses. The questions should include (but NOT be limited to) each topical area delineated below:

a.     What is the mission/vision and goals of the organization?

b.     What are the expectations for an BSN prepared nurse in your specialty in terms of meeting the organization's mission?

c.     What does it takes to succeed in the organization?

d.     What recommendations would your suggest a BSN acquire to follow in your role in this specialty.

e.     Would you or a successful member of this organization consider mentoring me during my Capstone rotation?

In addition, you are to develop at least 5 (five) additional, relevant questions that serve to further your understanding of critical elements as related to successful specialty role transition within the specific organization.

The conversation should be well organized in terms of categories of questions sharing similar focus, and should be presented in such a way as to be helpful to other individuals attempting to transition into new specialty nursing roles within similar types of organizations.

Note: This is a learning interview and is NOT a "job interview", as you are a self-invited guest in interviewing this organizational leader and potential mentor. Questions about such items as salary, benefits, etc. are not appropriate.

Summary (Level Heading) Summarize the key points of the conversation as they relate to your chosen nursing specialty role, and successful transition to such a role within the selected organization.

Reflection and Follow-Up: (Level Heading) This is a separate section, which follows the write up of the actual interview. Submit a 1-to-2-page summative evaluation of the interview. This information will address such elements as your critical analysis and evaluation of the interview process including (but not limited to) what you would do differently upon reflection, information about your current personal professional status (where you are now in your career), and resultant plans (post interview) for professional mentorship. This section should include an initial plan for mentorship, including with whom and how mentorship will begin. Your plan for mentorship may or may not be with the leader being interviewed.

Scholarly Writing (not a heading) Demonstrates scholarly writing through development of a grammatically correct, professionally presented paper. APA format and references required. Follow APA guidelines of how to reference personal communications. See grading rubric prior to submission.  

Remember to thank them for taking the time to be interviewed.

References

Required Text Title: Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing Theory and Application (10th edition)

Any other References from Peer reviewed articles less than 5 years.