Leadership Paper is Worth 25% of Total Final Grade1
Nurse Leader Interview Paper Instructions
Select a nurse to interview (in person, face to face) who acts in the role of a leader or
manager who would hire a Master of Science prepared nurse (Advanced Practice Nurse) in your
specialty. This may be a leader or manager in acute care, community agencies, research, academia,
or leading a professional organization. This person must have at least a master’s degree (MSN) or
higher and at least 5 years nursing and 2 years leadership experience. The nurse leader interview
will be developed into an APA formatted paper. Prior to developing the nurse leader interview
paper, students must obtain written permission via email from the nurse leader being interviewed
and attach it to the paper. It will be important to send your list of questions to the nurse leader prior
to the interview. This assignment must be submitted using the SafeAssign and meet the
criteria that all submitted work must fall below a 20% similarity index (excluding all
headings and references).
This assignment provides you the opportunity to apply your knowledge of leadership
approaches and theories to evaluate the skills, values, and methods of someone currently serving in
a leadership position. It is recommended that you make a 15-20 minute appointment with the
leader or the manager of your choice. Generate at list of questions (prepared prior to the interview).
You will incorporate both the assignment-required questions, as well as critically developed
questions of your own creation. You may, if permitted, 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). A list
of your proposed questions may be attached to the final document as an Appendix.
Outline of the APA Paper Submission:
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
summary of the interview process. This information will address such elements as your critical
analysis and evaluation of the interview process, professional status and development, and future
leadership goals within an organization.
Part 1: Interview of the nurse leader. Use the outline of general questions below as well as at
least five of your own to prepare your narrative paper and ask for a response to each of the
questions. Narrative form refers to a descriptive writing approach that discloses details of an act,
event, or phenomenon. It tells a story meant to lead the reader to an important conclusion or
meaningful realization or life lesson.
Introduction (Level Heading) Present an introduction for the interview conducted, the paper will
begin with a brief introduction of the leader being interviewed and will proceed to the questions
Leadership Paper is Worth 25% of Total Final Grade
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asked and answers received. 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:
•
Determine from the interviewee what are the mission/vision/ goals of the organization.
Describe the interviewee’s expectations of an advanced practice nurse- a leader within his,
other specialty.
•
Discuss what the interviewee believes it takes for the Bachelor of Science prepared nurse to
academically excel at the advanced practice nursing level and transition to a nurse leader in
this organization.
•
Develop at least 5 additional, relevant questions that serve to further your understanding of
critical elements as related to successful specialty role transition within the specific
organization. Your interview questions might explore leadership and management styles
(refer to your textbook) and identify the different types of activities of each.
The conversation should be well organized in terms of categories of questions sharing a 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 NOT a “job interview.” the student is a self-invited guest interviewing the
organizational leader. Questions about such items as salary, benefits, job opportunities, etc. are not
appropriate
Reflection/Analysis and Follow-Up (Level Heading) 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. Analysis of this leader’s leadership style (Use from current literature to
support leadership characteristics or theories). The student will also compare the information
obtained during the interview to what was learned from reading and class discussion about the
leader’s practices. This section should also reflect personal philosophy of leadership. In your
analysis include the answers to the following questions:
•
Why did you choose to interview this individual?
•
What made this leader you interviewed unique and impressionable?
•
What were some key attributes that you liked about this leader?
•
What information most surprised you from the interview and what was most useful?
•
Describe how this experience has influenced your own personal definition of “leadership”
Leadership Paper is Worth 25% of Total Final Grade
•
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What new insights did you gain about your leadership style (Use from current literature to
support leadership characteristics or theories and reference). Summarize the key lessons
you will apply to your practice of professional nursing and leadership.
•
Provide an overview of values you feel are important for a nurse leader, those you felt were
evidenced in the interview and those you feel that you possess that would make you a good
leader or some that you might need to work on to be a good leader (support responses with
personal reflection, interview data and scholarly sources) Clearly articulate your own
values and vision of nursing leadership for your future in the nursing profession.
•
What are your priorities as you think about a leadership role? Reflect on personal strengths
and areas for improvement in managing professional relationships. Provide information on
how these strengths and areas for improvement can impact professional relationships.
•
Identify practical methods to address and/or leverage each area of improvement.
•
What do you think you would (or do) expect from others when you are in a leadership role?
Summary (Level Heading): Summarize the key points of the conversation as each relates to the
interviewee’s chosen nursing leadership-specialty role and how a prospective nurse leader could
make a successful transition to such a role within the selected nurse leader’s organization. Please
include resultant plans (post-interview) for professional development and pursuit of future nurse
leader opportunities.
Your paper must be written in APA 7th edition format, 12 pt Times New Roman legible
font, double spaced with appropriate citations (The paper length requirement is 5-7 pages without
counting the title and reference page). You must use at least 3 evidence based scholarly articles
other than your textbook and course readings to support your narratives. Please be sure to send a
thank you note to your leader. It will be important to send your list of questions to the nurse leader
prior to the interview.
GRADING RUBRIC
Category
Introduction (20
pts)
Exemplary
20 pts
Clearly presents
introduction of interview,
the person being
interviewed and the
organization. The rationale
for choosing the individual
is clear in light of students
selected nurse specialty
role
Competent
15 pts
Mostly clear introduction
and summary of the
person interviewed as well
as the organization with
the rationale somewhat
clear in light of the
students selected nurse
specialty
Main idea and
purpose
32 pts
Excellent presentation of
the main ideas and
categories elicited from
the interview and
supported with scholarly
24pts
Good overall presentation
of the main ideas and
categories elicited from
the interview and mostly
supported with scholarly
(32 pts)
Developing
10 pts
Vague introduction
and summary of the
person interviewed,
the organization and
an unclear connection
to the students
selected nurse
specialty
Beginning
5 pts
Unclear to no
introduction provided,
with little to no
summary of person
interviewed and no to
little information
about organization or
connection to the
students selected nurse
specialty
16 pts
8 pts
Vague presentation of Unclear to no
the main ideas and
presentation of the
categories elicited
main ideas and
from the interview
categories elicited
and fairly supported
from the interview and
Leadership Paper is Worth 25% of Total Final Grade
readings which is helpful
to other individuals
transitioning to specialty
roles
readings which is helpful
to other individuals
transitioning to specialty
roles
Critical analysis
(32 pts)
32 pts
Exceptional presentation
of interview concepts
comparing interview
information with
leadership practices
discussed in class readings
and discussion. Evidence
of leadership style and
characteristics are
accurately presented in a
clear fashion with
excellent support using
evidence-based literature.
Each of the required
questions are reflected in a
thoughtful and integrated
way into the final analysis.
24pts
Good presentation of
interview concepts
comparing interview
information with
leadership practices
discussed in class readings
and discussion. Evidence
of leadership style and
characteristics are
adequately presented in a
mostly clear fashion with
good support using
evidence-based literature.
Most of the required
questions are reflected in a
thoughtful integrated way
into the final analysis.
Self-Reflection
(32 pts)
32 pts
Clear and excellent
reflection of individual
philosophy as a future
nurse leader that
demonstrates an authentic
introspection on values,
priorities and expectations
as a potential leader that
integrates course readings,
interview knowledge and
best practice.
24pts
Mostly a good reflection
of individual philosophy
as a future nurse leader
demonstrates a mostly
authentic introspection on
values, priorities, and
expectations as a potential
leader that integrates
course readings, interview
knowledge and best
practice.
Summary (32
pts)
32 pts
Exceptional
summarization of key
points of conversation
reflecting interviewee’s
chosen leadershipspecialty role; clear
understanding of
successful transition to a
nurse leader role in
prospective organization.
Detailed outline of
professional development
plans for future leader
opportunities.
24pts
Good summarization of
key points of conversation
reflecting interviewee’s
chosen leadership
specialty role; good
understanding of
successful transition to
nurse leader role in
prospective organization.
Fairly detailed outline of
professional development
plans for future leader
opportunities
Research: How
the literature is
integrated
throughout the
paper (20 pts)
20 pts
Sources are exceptionally
well integrated and clearly
support claims in the
paper. More than a
minimum of 3 scholarly
sources in addition to the
textbook are effectively
integrated into assignment
15 pts
Sources are somewhat
well integrated and mostly
support claims in the
paper. A minimum of 3
scholarly sources other
than the textbook are
effectively integrated into
assignment.
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with scholarly
readings which is
helpful to other
individuals
transitioning to
specialty roles
16 pts
Fair presentation of
interview concepts
comparing interview
information with
leadership practices
discussed in class
readings and
discussion. Evidence
of leadership style
and characteristics
are inadequately
presented in a vague
fashion with limited
support using
evidence-based
literature. Some of
the required questions
are reflected in a
general integrated
way into the final
analysis.
16 pts
Fair to limited
reflection of
individual philosophy
as a future nurse
leader demonstrates a
fair authentic
introspection on
values, priorities, and
exceptions as a
potential leader that
integrates course
readings, interview
knowledge and best
practice.
16 pts
Fair summarization
of key points of
conversation
reflecting
interviewee’s chosen
leadership specialty
role; fair
understanding of
successful transition
to nurse leader role in
prospective
organization. Limited
detail of professional
development plans
for future leader
opportunities
10 pts
Sources are fairly
well integrated and
somewhat support
claims in the paper. A
minimum of 2
scholarly sources
other than textbook
are somewhat
little to no supporting
scholarly readings
which fail to help
other individuals
transition to specialty
roles.
8 pts
Little to no
presentation of
interview concepts
comparing interview
information with
leadership practices
discussed in class
reading and
discussion. Evidence
of leadership style and
characteristics are
poorly or not
presented in a limited
fashion with little to
no support using
evidence-based
literature. Little to few
of the required
questions are reflected
in a vague manner that
fails to adequately
integrate these into the
final analysis.
8 pts
Little to no reflection
of individual
philosophy as a future
nurse leader
demonstrates a limited
to no introspection on
values, priorities, and
exceptions as a
potential leader that
integrates course
readings, interview
knowledge and best
practice.
8 pts
Limited to no
summarization of key
points of conversation
reflecting internee’s
chosen leadership
specialty role; little to
no understanding of
successful transition to
nurse leader role in
prospective
organization provided.
Vague to no detail of
professional
development plans for
future leader
opportunities.
5 pts
Sources are limitedly
and poorly support
claims in the paper. A
minimum of less than
2 scholarly sources
other than textbook
are poorly integrated
into the assignment.
Leadership Paper is Worth 25% of Total Final Grade
Grammar &
mechanics (12
pts)
APA guidelines
and formatting
(16 pts)
196 pts total
12 pts
Excellent grammar,
spelling, syntax and
punctuation with fewer
than 3 errors throughout
assignment.
16 pts
Uses APA guidelines
accurately and consistently
to cite sources and format
paper including title, level
of headings, spacing, intext references and
reference page. Paper is
within the expected page
length
9 pts
Good grammar, spelling,
syntax and punctuation
with between 3-5 errors
throughout assignment
12 pts
Uses APA guidelines with
fewer than 2 errors in
citing sources and
formatting (title page,
level of headings, spacing,
in-text references, and
reference page). Paper is
within the expected paper
length.
5
integrated into
assignment
6 pts
Fair grammar,
spelling, syntax and
punctuation with 5-8
errors throughout
assignment.
8 pts
Uses APA guidelines
with fewer than 5
errors in citing
sources and
formatting (title page,
level of headings,
spacing, in-text
references, and
reference page).
Paper is mostly
within expected page
length.
3 pts
Poor grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
punctuation with > 8
errors throughout
assignment.
4 pts
Uses APA guidelines
with more than 5
errors in citing sources
and formatting (title
page, level of
headings, spacing, intext references, and
reference page). Paper
is not within expected
page length.