Reflection On Leadership In Nursing

Leadership has many definitions. Chin, Desormeaux, and Sawyer (2016) define leadership as a relationship between followers and a leader with the intent to promote change through a mutual vision. Therefore, leaders are active influences in the outcome of organizations, through their decision-making, strategies, and influence on followers (Dinh et al., 2014). Additionally, in the nursing context, it has been documented that a leader 's style plays a factor in patient outcomes (Fischer, 2016). Indeed, in an ever-changing, complex health care environment, nursing leadership has become a crucial factor in managing challenges and maintaining patient safety (Fischer, 2016).

Behind every great nurse is a great leader. Leaders help establish a drive and a commitment to achieve a goal, and they provide skills to make it achievable. Through some research, a nurse leader that I have come to admire and respect is Patricia R. Johnson, MN, RN. Johnson is Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA. By possessing and using leadership skills, impacting others around her, and being a great team player are reasons why Johnson is successful as a nurse leader.

Leaders do more than delegate, dictate, and direct. Leaders help others achieve their highest potential (ANA, 2015). There are several different types of nursing leadership styles such as Servant Leadership, Transformational leadership, Authoritarian or Autocratic Leadership, Laissez-faire Leadership, and etc. Each leadership type highlights a different area and approach into nursing leadership. In the 1970’s, Robert Greenleaf created this term, Servant Leadership, to describe leaders who influence and motivate others by building relationships and developing the skills of individual team members.

Also, I will discuss the characteristic that I will and will not integrate into my leadership style. Leaders are an integral component in the healthcare system. An effective manager must be able to integrate leadership skills with the ability to carry out management functions (Marquis & Huston, 2015, p. 48). Effective leadership styles help to retain staff and promote job satisfaction (Azaare & Gross, 2011). Every individual has a unique leadership style.

According to the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (n.d), the Health Leadership Competency Model is comprised of three domains: transformation, execution, and people. Following the Health Leadership Competency Model, a nurse leader can meet the challenges of navigating through the complex diversity of today's’ ever-changing health care environment. Competencies are necessary for nurse leader to provide a framework for documentation assure performance, and encourage continued development/training of staff. By establishing staff competencies, it can also help improve productivity, accuracy, and efficiency (Zawawi, Nasurdin, 2015). However, without vision and a goal, competencies become just a list; this is why it is important to develop transformational leaders.

Nurses are a vital part of the health care system and the leaders that manage their performance can affect their productivity, trust, and even acceptance of change. The purpose of this paper is to discuss my style of leadership based on a leadership style survey. I will also describe what leadership and management theories align with my leadership style. After presenting my leadership style, I will discuss the work environment that this style would be successful in. I will conclude with three key behaviors that will demonstrate the skills of a successful leader.

The nurse leader should demonstrate expectations for quality care, and motivate those around them to do the same. To achieve this key practice, it is emphasized that nurse leaders need to be clear about their expectations and values when delivering high quality care. Inspiring a shared vision is the next step in becoming an effective transformational leader. This is done through understanding those whom the leader is leading. To create

Being a new graduate I haven’t gotten the opportunity to explore many nursing leadership role, but I plan on pursuing different leadership responsibilities further in my nursing career. Until reading Strengths

Transformational Leadership in Nursing Introduction Transformational Leadership is the moral ability of a person to make sound judgment and wise decision to influence and inspire others to perform the best outcome even in the critical situation. It is the ability to guide others not just in words, but also by example. Nurses are able to cultivate trust and harmony and establish good relationship with their patients and co-workers through effective and constant communication and intervention. They respond to the basic needs and expectation (Rousel, 2011), they set aside their personal interest for the benefit of their patients and the organization.

This has taught me that I am sometimes too hard on myself. This experience has taught me, that I don’t give myself credit. I have learned a lot in nursing school, and in my medical career as a whole. In the future I will continue to prepare for clinical or work and jump right in and do what’s asked of me . If, I am unsure of something, I will just ask for

Characteristics portrayed by transformational leaders include: uplifting, charismatic, trustworthy, respectful, and loyal. These are dynamic individuals who take on an interactive process between people to fulfill changes and focus on a common goal. They are highly motivated and articulate individuals that have the ability to inspire workers to take on projects they would ordinarily be uncomfortable doing, while unknowingly, they become the leaders. Transformational leaders “focus on merging the motives, desires, values, and goals of leaders and followers into a common way” (Sullivan, 2017 p.46). This type of leadership is a natural role for most nurse

One of my major goals was to become more proficient in my reporting skills. I have enhanced my communication skills, and I am now able to give report not only to other nurses, but physicians as well. My reports have become more concise, more organized and I have received a lot of positive feedback from staff. I have had the opportunity to watch several procedures including a nasal intubation, insertion of central lines, and the removal of intra-aortic balloon pumps. The staff were so supportive of my learning, and frequently pulled me away to see new skills being performed.

(Nursing Times). Nursing is gaining influence in all aspect of healthcare practice, therefore it is important for nurses to develop good leadership skills at the early stage of their practice which is the key to all nursing career and nurse managers can become good leaders with effective training and enhancement of their skills in leadership. Most nursing managers are tossed around by their leaders when they themselves are leaders in their capacities. A nursing manager aspiring to become a leader must be committed to excellence and passion for patient’s advocacy, employee’s protection and be a role model, living by example.

According to Stanhope, leadership can be defined as, “the process of influence that occurs between a leader and an individual, group , organization, community, or society, often by inspiring, enlivening, and engaging others to participate in the achievement of goals” (Stanhope, 870). My nurse uses leadership to delegate whether it be to the home health aides that come in throughout the week or to me to perform assessments as she documents. Delegation is a key competency to leadership. She also makes decisions using critical thinking. A strong example of this is when she is faced with a challenging wound.

Similarly leadership is the ability to influence people toward attainment of goals (Draft, 2000). The aim of this study is to assess the importance and the need for nurses to have management and leadership skills and to establish the relationship between leadership and management. For many years there has been an emphasis on developing nurses as leaders, culminating in the launch of the Leadership Framework and the National Health Scheme (NHS) Leadership Academy in 2002.