Innovative Nursing Leadership in Youth Health (Report‪)‬

Introduction The New Zealand Primary Health Care Strategy (Ministry of Health, 2001) acknowledges the contribution of clinical leadership to positive outcomes for clients of primary health care (PHC) facilities. Clinical leadership can emerge from any of the health disciplines in PHC. However, the Strategy vision and mission specifically recognises the potential contribution of nursing. Consistent with this vision, in 2003 the Ministry funded 11 nursing innovation projects and their evaluation. The Hutt Valley Youth Health Service (later named Vibe) was chosen to be one of these project sites. Vibe successfully advanced its remit during the project (Primary Health Care Nurse Evaluation Team, 2007). As the project aim and objectives concerned the development of a nurse position, success was tied intimately to the expanding sphere of influence of the nurse's clinical leadership ability. The nurse was on the cusp of becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP) as she took up the position and registered in this scope during the project period. The NP scope of practice requires the demonstration of leadership (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2004).