Introduction
Courageous Leadership is critical to the success of healthcare organizations and patients’ well-being. Effective leadership in the healthcare sector necessitates a specific set of abilities and values adapted to the complex and dynamic healthcare environment. Leadership ideals act as compass points for leaders as they traverse complex situations and reach moral conclusions. These competencies also provide a supportive workplace environment, strengthen teamwork, and improve patient outcomes. The book on leadership, Courage: The Backbone of Leadership, has five key leadership concepts that will be discussed in this essay. The guidelines consist of the following:
- Honesty
- Honor
- Ethics
- Being a Person of Integrity and Character
- Courage
Honesty
One of the most crucial leadership values is honesty, which entails continually acting with integrity and openness in all facets of leadership. Sincere leaders build a culture of trust and credibility by being transparent and honest with their team members. Leaders foster clarity and establish enduring bonds with their team by being open and forthcoming about their objectives, choices, and expectations (Lee & Elliott-Lee, 2010). Additionally, honest and sincere leaders encourage their staff to act honestly and dependably, fostering an environment of integrity in the workplace.
Situation: A nurse manager is implementing the hospital’s new medicine delivery policy into practice.
Application: In this case, the nurse manager can practice honesty by telling the nursing staff the real reasons for the policy change. They may clarify the possible advantages, respond to any queries, and offer the training and materials required to assist the implementation. The nurse manager builds trust with the employees by being open and honest about the reasons for the change, ensuring that they comprehend the justification and are more inclined to support the new policy. Additionally, by cultivating an atmosphere that values open communication, the nurse manager may support an honest culture among the nursing team. They can establish regular forums or meetings where nurses can voice their concerns, share feedback, and suggest improvements.
Honor
Honor is a concept that places a strong emphasis on following the highest ethical standards and acting with respect for both oneself and others. Leaders that have integrity treat their team members with respect and equity (Persaud, 2020). They keep their word and take responsibility for their acts. Honest leaders build trust by consistently delivering on their promises and being upfront about challenges and setbacks. Also, they value open communication and encourage their team members to provide honest feedback, creating an environment of mutual respect and trust. Leaders embodying honor inspire loyalty and dedication among their followers, as they consistently act in a manner that reflects their values and principles (Persaud, 2020).
Situation: For a busy shift, the nurse manager assigns patient assignments to the nursing team.
Application: The nurse manager may put honor into practice by making sure that patients are assigned fairly and equally. They may take into account elements, including the complexity of the patient’s demands, the nurses’ skill levels, and the allocation of the workload. The nurse manager fosters a feeling of honor within the team by equally allocating patient assignments and showing respect for each nurse’s skills and knowledge. Additionally, they can uphold their obligations by supporting the nursing team aggressively in challenging situations. If a nurse is having trouble with a particularly complicated case, the nurse manager may be able to provide advice, resources, or additional staff help.
Ethics
Ethical leadership is making judgments based on a larger sense of what is ethically correct rather than just following legal obligations. Leaders that are ethical take into account how their decisions will affect all parties involved, including the environment, communities, and workers (Cummings et al., 2020). They value diversity and inclusion and display fairness, equity, and justice in their decision-making processes. Clear rules of ethics are established by ethical leaders inside their organizations, guiding their team members and establishing the bar for ethical conduct at all organizational levels (Cummings et al., 2020).
Situation: A subordinate nurse has been routinely recording incorrect patient vital signs, which presents a problem for nurse management.
Application: In this case, the nurse manager must act ethically by resolving the problem as soon as possible and following accepted ethical principles. The nurse manager might approach the nurse in a confidential setting to address the issues and go through the significance of proper documentation for patient safety and high-quality treatment. They could emphasize how important it is for nurses to offer truthful and correct information since it affects patient outcomes. The nurse manager can also make sure that the nursing team is informed about and reinforced professional and ethical standards. It is possible to provide regular educational seminars on moral issues like patient confidentiality and informed consent.
Being a Person of Character and Integrity
Being a person of character and integrity entails regularly exhibiting moral behavior, dependability, and devotion to core principles. It is a fundamental leadership component. Characteristic leaders routinely make decisions that are in line with a defined set of beliefs. They gain the respect and trust of their teammates because they are dependable, honest, and consistent in their behavior. Leaders provide a feeling of stability and encourage others to follow them by modeling honesty (Johnson, 2019). Characteristic leaders encourage responsibility, cultivate a climate of trust, and uphold the highest ethical standards.
Situation: A nurse manager notices that a staff member has a history of showing up to work late.
Application: By speaking candidly with the staff member in this instance, the nurse manager may show that she is a person of moral character and integrity. The nurse manager, together with the nurse in question, can arrange a private meeting to go through the value of being on time, how being late affects patient care, and what is expected of professionals. They might underscore their commitment as a leader to supporting the principles of accountability and honesty within the healthcare team. The nurse manager may also set an example by continuously acting with honesty, professionalism, and timeliness. This sets a positive example for the staff, reinforcing the importance of character and integrity within the healthcare environment.
Courage
One of the most important leadership values is courage, which entails taking chances, facing morally challenging choices, and standing up for what is right. Leaders with courage are capable of taking on difficulties and adversity, regardless of how unpleasant or unpopular it may be. Their team members are motivated to follow their lead because they are prepared to accept change and take measured risks (Cole et al., 2019). Additionally, brave leaders have the guts to stand up for their beliefs even in the face of criticism, exhibiting their dedication to acting in a way that is morally and ethically correct. Courageous leadership fosters creativity, empowers people, and fosters a culture of sincerity and ongoing development (Cole et al., 2019).
Situation: A nurse manager learns that a colleague nurse has observed a doctor acting unethically, but she is reluctant to report it for fear of retribution.
Application: In this case, the nurse management must exhibit bravery by urging the nurse to speak out and denounce the unethical behavior. In addition to highlighting the significance of patient safety and ethical behavior, nurse management can reassure the nurse of their support and protection. This cultivates an atmosphere where people feel encouraged to stand up for what is right by encouraging a culture of bravery and speaking out against unethical behavior. Additionally, the nurse manager might set up a private reporting system or assign someone within the company to take care of such issues. Offering an avenue for anonymous reporting and ensuring a fair investigation process ensures their commitment to addressing ethical issues and promoting a culture of accountability.
Questions
- What role do you think courage plays in the application of the values of honor, courage, ethics, and being a person of character and integrity in nursing? Can you give an instance from your personal experience or observations where you saw the influence of these principles on nursing practice or patient care?
- What difficulties or issues do you anticipate nurses will have in sustaining these standards in their routine practice in light of these principles? How can nurses negotiate these difficulties and continue to uphold these values while providing patients with high-quality care?
References
Cole, D. A., Bersick, E., Skarbek, A., Cummins, K., Dugan, K., & Grantoza, R. (2019). The courage to speak out: A study describing nurses’ attitudes to report unsafe practices in patient care. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(6), 1176–1181. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12789
Cummings, G. G., Lee, S., Tate, K., Penconek, T., Micaroni, S. P. M., Paananen, T., & Chatterjee, G. E. (2020). The Essentials of Nursing Leadership: A Systematic Review of Factors and Educational Interventions Influencing Nursing Leadership. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 115(103842), 103842. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748920303333
Johnson, S. L. (2019). Authentic Leadership Theory and Practical Applications in Nuclear Medicine. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 47(3), 181–188. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.118.222851
Lee, G., & Elliott-Lee, D. (2010). Courage. John Wiley & Sons.
Persaud, S. (2020). Diversifying Nursing Leadership Through Commitment, Connection, and Collaboration. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 44(3), 244–250. https://doi.org/10.1097/naq.0000000000000422
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