Changes in Nursing and Women’s Leadership Across Six Countries

Abstract

Annually, nurses from around the world come together at the Global Nursing Leadership Institute Scholars (GNLI) to learn how they can influence local, national and international health agendas. Similarly the Asian and Asian American Study Group for Nursing Leadership (AAANL) is committed to challenging historical approaches to nurse leadership and bringing Asian women’s leadership into the global health debate. Leadership in nursing has been mainly developed based on the underlying assumptions of North American values, however, the increasingly global nature of healthcare requires different understanding and approaches. GNLI scholars in partnership with the AAANL will address two critical professional issues: the importance of cross-cultural knowledge in nursing leadership; and reconciling nursing leadership with the broader political health agenda. GNLI scholars will explore the changing nature of nursing leadership and how the GNLI program is preparing nurse leaders for now and into the future. Recognising that as nurses, and patient advocates, we are bound up with the broader health and political agenda through resource decision making and addressing the causes of health inequalities. Causes, which are often historical, entrenched, culturally sensitive, and unforgiving on leaders who are unable to navigate complex political agendas. The AAANL will then focus on Asian women’s leadership needs across three countries/regions (Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the U.S.), which will showcase the necessity of cross-cultural leadership to global health and well-being. This group will provide overall findings on women’s leadership needs across the countries/regions and implications for future development of Asian women’s leadership.