Leadership Pre-Interview

As soon as I read the requirements for this assignment, a nurse leader immediately came to my thought. In high school, I was introduced to a nurse at my local hospital and had the opportunity to interview to volunteer with her and her projects as Trauma Prevention Coordinator for Bergen County, New Jersey. This was a new opportunity for me to delve into the medical field and be exposed to different areas. She was the first nurse that I met that didn’t have a bedside role and she still had a crucial role in implementing safety and education to the community. I admire how Mel is a selfless leader that deeply cares about others and being involved in our path that we were creating for ourselves as high school students who were interested in the medical field. It was very apparent to me before completing hundreds of volunteer hours with Mel that she is a leader, she respects those around her and looks out for others and holds herself with high regard. During my time with Mel, looking back I had tunnel vision and only considered medical school for my future, however during my experience she exposed me to various medical professions and I greatly value that and that has helped me lead me to the path that I am currently on in a nursing program. She had a formal leadership position within the hospital system and represented Safe Kids New Jersey Bergen County through State Farm Insurance and received countless grants to provide helmet and safety information to kids across the state. I believe through her position she was able to also be an informal leader and help each of her volunteers become leaders themselves through building confidence and public speaking skills at volunteer events. Defining a difference between informal and formal leadership in my eyes is whether or not you have a title that defines your leadership position, but that doesn’t hinder anyone from holding leadership characteristics to be an informal leader. I am most looking forward to reconnecting with Mel and finding out how she has pursued other nursing leadership opportunities, the decision to leave bedside nursing and inquire about her MSN in Leadership program.