The nurse leader has a role in planned change, whether change is realized through improved health for the individual or through improved community health awareness. The nurse leader accepts responsibility for understanding and altering forces that affect health care delivery. Linkages with social supports and advocacy are important components of the leadership role. Advocacy encompasses mutual respect, cooperation and accountability. The nurse as teacher fosters health promotion through client support and education.
Teaching is a planned, goal-directed role of the nurse in collaboration with the client.
Teaching clients to care for themselves is central to nursing practice and advances self-care and personal responsibility for health promotion and risk reduction. The teaching role of the nurse also involves instructing one's colleagues and motivating them toward lifelong learning. Research is critical for expanding nursing's body of knowledge. As a consumer of research , the nurse is guided by scientific inquiry in establishing sound principles for nursing practice. Research findings are evaluated for relevance and application to nursing practice.