As leaders, nurse executives are paramount to successful mergers and acquisitions. The American Nurses Association (ANA) said nurse leaders could make improvements that impact patient care, foster a safe and healthy workplace, craft a vision for the future and drive quality improvements. The ANA suggested nine principles to improve the effectiveness as a leader, which can apply to leadership through mergers and acquisitions:

1. Commit to excellence
2. Measure important things
3. Build a culture around service
4. Create and develop leaders
5. Focus on employee satisfaction
6. Build individual accountability
7. Align behaviors with goals and values
8. Communicate on all levels
9. Recognize and reward success

Clearly, nurse leadership skills translate from bedside care to the boardroom, including in assisting through mergers and acquisitions. As DNP-educated nurses, CNOs can meet the needs of professional nurses, hospital executives, and patients. At Duquesne University, RNs who enroll in the online DNP program learn essential skills for leadership, including social justice, organizational leadership, business strategy, nursing informatics, and budgeting and finance, to name a few.

About Duquesne University’s Online DNP Program

Duquesne University’s online DNP program trains RNs for leadership positions to implement positive changes and professional accountability in healthcare. Students learn how to build on existing experiences and knowledge and implement evidence-based practices in clinical settings. Graduates use their healthcare expertise and business acumen in leadership roles. Duquesne University’s online DNP program offers three tracks:

• Clinical Leadership DNP
• Post-Bachelor’s Executive Nurse Leadership DNP
• Post-Master’s Executive Nurse Leadership DNP

Duquesne University’s online DNP program also allows students to continue working and maintain family responsibilities while earning an advanced degree.