Chamberlain College NR351: Strategic Thinking Report

This report analyzes a case study about Kate, a manager in a busy emergency department, who lacked strategic thinking skills and missed a leadership opportunity. The report defines strategic thinking as evaluating risks, costs, and benefits in decision-making. It emphasizes the need to shift from a narrow operational focus to a broader health system perspective, linking organizational plans with frontline work, and consistent practice. The report highlights the importance of a changed mindset, continuous learning, and open-mindedness to embrace new ideas for developing strategic thinking skills. The impact on the author's future career is also discussed, emphasizing the need to reflect on skill gaps and continuously develop skills.

Running head: STRATEGIC THINKING
Strategic thinking
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STRATEGIC THINKING 2
Summary
The article given talks about Kate, a manger of a busy emergency department. She missed an
opportunity of being selected as health systems nursing director due to lack of strategic thinking
skills as required from potential candidates who could join the organization leadership. The
question that remains in Kates mind is how she can develop the strategic thinking skills. The
article defines strategic thinking as a way of thinking about the risks, profits and cost of decision
solutions. Before one can develop strategic thinking skills, the individual must understand the
current daily functions of the organization he or she hopping to work in at the moment. Kate
needed to change her mindset from a myopic focus. She needs to move beyond frontline
operational that involve providing care and staffing-based solutions. There are many ways of
developing strategic thinking. First an individual need to change mind according to Dyess &
Sherman, (2019). For instance observing the trends that affect the health system instead of only
focusing on one’s environment. Another thing is that a strategic leader must always link the
organization strategic plans to the frontline works. It involves effective communication of the
plans. The last is to always practice on daily basis the process of developing strategic skills.
Impact on future
The story in the above article impact my life in various ways. The first issue is that when one is
developing strategic skills, it is necessary to have a changed mind. For example, in future when I
apply for a position and the company do not consider me, I should not feel low but reflect on the
skills the company needed that I did not have at that time. The second thing to do in future is to
be ready to learn always. For instance, Sherman, & Cohn, (2015) said that developing the
strategic thinking may not happen in a day but in needs continuous practice to ensure that I have
all the skills needed. There are cases where the environment I come from can limit me from

STRATEGIC THINKING 3
learning new ideas. However, to be a strategic leader I need to go beyond that, have open mind
that can welcome new ideas every day.

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References
Dyess, S. M., & Sherman, R. O. (2019). The first year of practice: New graduate nurses’
transition and learning needs. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 40(9),
403-410.
Sherman, R. O., & Cohn, T. M, (2015). Improving your coaching skills. American Nurse
Today, 11(5), 28-31.