The Executive Nurse

From The Critics

Reviewer: Anna M. McDaniel, DNS, RN(Indiana University School of Nursing)
Description: This book describes the evolving role and functions of the nurse executive in a network or multi-institutional setting. An underlying theme of the book is the importance of executive nurse leadership in shaping organizational culture.
Purpose: The purpose of this book is to present an "essential new area of expertise" needed by the executive nurse in health care corporations. This book offers useful information for nurses at executive levels as they face the challenges of delivering quality care in today's increasingly competitive healthcare market.
Audience: The book is written for the executive nurse or aspiring nurse leader. The content of the book also would be appropriate for graduate students in nursing administration and nurse researchers. The author and contributors are nationally recognized for leadership within their health care organizations. The majority of contributors are from the Midwest.
Features: Diagrams and charts enhance the discussion and are useful supplements to the content. References, primarily from organizational theory and business literature, are current and appropriate. The text is easy to read and well-organized. Path subheadings and business lists to emphasize important points. Several chapters include brief scenarios that exemplify concepts presented. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions.
Assessment: This book would be a useful reference for the executive nurse facing the challenges present as now multi-institutional corporations emerge. Although the author states that the intended audience is the executive nurse in networks that span the continuum of care, the focus of the text is on the acute-care setting. Some content may already be familiar (e.g., TQM). The authors include practical experiences in health care innovations and discuss the theoretical implications of such changes for the organization and the executive nurse. Overall, the book is effective in stimulating scholarly analysis of critical issues faced by nurse executives.

Anna M. McDaniel

This book describes the evolving role and functions of the nurse executive in a network or multi-institutional setting. An underlying theme of the book is the importance of executive nurse leadership in shaping organizational culture. The purpose of this book is to present an essential new area of expertise needed by the executive nurse in health care corporations. This book offers useful information for nurses at executive levels as they face the challenges of delivering quality care in today's increasingly competitive healthcare market. The book is written for the executive nurse or aspiring nurse leader. The content of the book also would be appropriate for graduate students in nursing administration and nurse researchers. The author and contributors are nationally recognized for leadership within their health care organizations. The majority of contributors are from the Midwest. Diagrams and charts enhance the discussion and are useful supplements to the content. References, primarily from organizational theory and business literature, are current and appropriate. The text is easy to read and well-organized. Path subheadings and business lists to emphasize important points. Several chapters include brief scenarios that exemplify concepts presented. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions. This book would be a useful reference for the executive nurse facing the challenges present as now multi-institutional corporations emerge. Although the author states that the intended audience is the executive nurse in networks that span the continuum of care, the focus of the text is on the acute-care setting. Some content may already be familiar (e.g., TQM). The authorsinclude practical experiences in health care innovations and discuss the theoretical implications of such changes for the organization and the executive nurse. Overall, the book is effective in stimulating scholarly analysis of critical issues faced by nurse executives.

3 Stars from Doody