Cardiovascular Nursing: Leadership Matters

This editorial is designed to highlight the importance of leadership across roles and settings in global cardiovascular nursing with aim of promoting optimal cardiovascular health for individuals from diverse populations. Emphasis is placed on transformational leadership and corresponding characteristics including charismatic influence, effective, open communication, valuing of relationships, and consideration of individual members of the team. The importance of setting a clear and realistic vision, being strategic in implementation of vision-related goals and activities and empowering and mentoring team members is also emphasized. An overview of the mission and goals and related activities of the Global Cardiovascular Nursing Leadership Forum (GCNLF) including the Cardiovascular Nursing Certificate Program designed to enhance the clinical knowledge as well as leadership and advocacy competencies of cardiovascular nurses is provided.