Authors

  1. O'Connor, Mary MS, RN, CHE

Abstract

Successful nursing leaders face challenges every day along a career path that winds around struggles and yet offers significant rewards. They strive to maintain integrity and truth in the face of competing demands and priorities. Complex professional scenarios require an internal comfort with ambiguity and diversity, and the capacity to navigate in an environment with multiple perspectives. A firm commitment to the process of lifelong learning and care of the self and others can transform survival into thriving. Established by the leadership of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, the Center for Nursing Leadership uses nontraditional learning activities to balance nurse leaders' professional development. This poem reflects the dimensions of leadership that were first generated by the American Organization of Nurse Executives' Center for Nursing Leadership in 1997. The dimensions use metaphor to merge the process of living nature with living leadership.