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Twenty two nurses from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) are driving positive change in their units through the Leadership for Change program. The program, which was first created over 20 years ago by the International Council of Nurses, was launched to help nurses gain the skills needed to take a greater role in the leadership of healthcare services.
“Nurse leaders are critical to health system improvements, as well as improvements in their work places. The Leadership for Change program has been an instrumental part of helping many nurses hone their skills and become visionaries, strategic thinkers, effective planners and managers of change,” said Dr. Badriya Al Lenjawi, HMC's Executive Director of Nursing and Leadership for Change National Coordinator.
Launched in Qatar in 2013, Leadership for Change is a partnership between the World Health Organization’s Office for Eastern Mediterranean, the International Council of Nurses, the Ministry of Public Health, HMC and the Primary Health Care Corporation. This is the third year the program has been offered in Qatar and signals the first time non-Qatari nationals have been invited to participate. During the first two years the program was exclusively offered to Qatari nationals, this year 8 of the 31 participants are long-term residents.
“This is the first time we’ve made the program available to long-term residents as well as Qatari nationals. We have participants from HMC, PHCC, Qatar Petroleum, Sidra and Aspetar. The year-long program uses a tested methodology based on action learning and prepares nurses for full participation in health planning, policy and management. Through workshops, individual development planning, team projects, structured learning activities and mentoring, graduates gain the skills needed to be transformational nurse leaders,” added Dr. Al Lenjawi.
Mohd Mansour A A Al Sharshani, who has worked at HMC for 11 years, is part of this year’s Leadership for Change cohort. The Molecular Oncology Supervisor with the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology said he is very grateful to be part of the program.
“The Leadership for Change program is one of the best things that has happened in my professional career, especially since I became a supervisor four years ago. It supports me in developing the organizational and management skills needed to motivate and lead others,” said Mr. Al Sharshani.
Last year’s cohort of Leadership for Change graduates also included ten trainers. This group completed the Training of Trainers course, learning how to deliver the Leadership for Change program to other nurses. A new group of trainers will complete the Training of Trainers course early next month.
Qatar is the sixth country in the region to implement the Leadership for Change program. The program has been implemented in more than 60 nations around the world.
