**2. Principles of nursing administration**

Nursing departments uphold the cooperate values and promote the image and services of the healthcare system. Nursing staff are guided by the principles of excellence in service, excellence in practice and excellence in leadership in promoting competitive advantage within the confines of their immediate environment and beyond. Patients, regardless of their circumstances, have intrinsic value and should be treated with dignity and respect, according to the principles of excellence in service. Patients' rights to privacy and confidentiality must always be respected in the pursuit of high-quality comprehensive care that is affordable and based on cutting-edge technology. Thus, every interaction with patients and their families should be marked by empathy and consideration for the wellbeing of those being served.

The nursing profession is viewed as both a science and an art, with the core values of nurturing and care. The practice of nursing evolves around knowledge (science) which is modelled in practice (art). Compassion and care are fundamental to the profession's principal responsibility: in restoring and maintaining patients' health. Patients' health needs are managed holistically by nurses and other healthcare team members utilizing the models of nursing care. For instance, nurses monitor and

#### *Strategic Leadership in Nursing DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104512*

evaluate nursing practice through auditing to improve patient-centered care and health education. Continuing education, membership in a professional association, and research are all ways in which nurses can ensure that clients' needs are met, and nursing practice remains competitive.

Nurses, according to the principles of excellence in leadership, should foster a progressive work environment that utilizes current technologies while exercising fiscal prudence to enable the greatest possible standard of healthcare. The health system should be a learning organization that engages research to enhance evidencebased practice. The role of the nurse is to promote and facilitate group decisionmaking. It is critical that nurses become sensitive to the unique requirements of each patient and promote, commend, recognize, and encourage professional and personal development to enhance the quality and differentiation of service. Suggestions and criticisms should be considered as challenges for improvement and innovations thus, giving room for flexibility and creativity. Equity, fairness and engagement should be employed in all performance and personnel policies to promote confidence, competence and commitment.

Nursing administration through effective communication eliminates misconceptions, misinterpretations and create shared vision, direction, and understanding among staff. Subsequently, it is essential to establish effective control. Control is an aspect of nursing administration that comprises of ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the execution of the plan. Supportive supervision via standard-setting, comparing performance with standards and making necessary corrections to ensure achievement of organizational goals. Effective communication enhances control in the nursing environment. Objectives are effectively communicated, roles and responsibilities as well as resources are distributed to accomplish all activities without any misunderstanding and confusion among staff.
