Getting Students to Value Leadership Early in the Nursing Curriculum: Innovation Makes It Possible

Introducing leadership content early in a nursing program and weaving related concepts throughout the curriculum allow students opportunities to try on leadership roles and styles and become more skilled in applying leadership concepts. This article describes the implementation and revision of a personal leadership course taught early in an undergraduate nursing curriculum using service-learning, simulation, and team-based learning. The innovative delivery of the course improved student satisfaction and relevance of leadership concepts to second-semester nursing students. The course is foundational and taken in addition to the traditional management and systems leadership course.