PART A
Leadership in nursing refers to exerting influence and direction over others; this involves helping the group achieve its objective(s) and keeping it united (MacDonald & Jakubec, 2021. p.314). A group’s purpose and goals can only be achieved with the active participation of its leaders. Leaders closely monitor the group process and act as facilitators to keep everyone on the same page and ensure that interventions are targeted at the right people. For groups to work well, strong leadership is necessary. Depending on the circumstances, it could originate with a single individual or be contributed by multiple individuals. A nurse leader makes a difference in the community through their work and not their authority, according to the American Nurses Association (2023). Leaders in the nursing profession motivate their followers to reach their full potential. They guide a team through critical thinking as an example of practical leadership in nursing. Nurses in leadership positions see the big picture, considering how their work affects the organization’s objectives. They inspire their team to reach their objectives by outlining their expectations. Nurses can take the lead in various organizational settings depending on their ability to inspire confidence and direction in those around them. This paper shall discuss some leadership styles that can be used in nursing, the qualities of a successful nursing leader, and the relationship between leadership qualities and the role of a practical nurse.
Leadership styles
Most people agree that authoritarian, laissez-faire, democratic, and shared leadership styles are the four most common. Nonetheless, ideas of nursing administration and leadership are beginning to pay more attention to transformational and transactional leadership ((MacDonald & Jakubec, 2021. p.315). The two forms of leadership are complementary; whereas transactional leaders handle the nuts and bolts of the business, transformational leaders inspire and motivate their followers. A type of leadership known as autocracy, authoritarianism, or paternalism entails the following: the leader keeps everyone in the group under their thumb, all communication is one-way and directed at the members, and the only way to motivate people is to force them to do the leader’s bidding, and the leader makes all the decisions without consulting anyone else. A leader with a laissez-faire attitude trusts that everything is working as it should. Skilled teams or independent nurses may find success with this approach. Democratic nurse leaders work well with others and prioritize the team’s performance. This nurse manager may be great at improving quality, but she needs to be up to the task when making decisions on her own. Shared leadership style is characterized by a balance of power between the group’s leaders and members, a shared focus on getting things done through shared leadership responsibilities, an emphasis on teamwork and a “we” mentality, open communication and collaboration, and the use of both positive and negative feedback to improve performance. Shared leadership’s benefits are increased output, stronger group cohesiveness, and contentment with group membership.
Qualities of a Successful Nursing Leader
The ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with others is essential for nursing leadership. It will help to minimize misunderstandings, promote group decision-making, and foster a feeling of shared purpose. Education and the Standard of Care: Nurses in leadership positions can adapt to a dynamic healthcare system by participating in ongoing professional development opportunities, which also help them support high-quality, evidence-based practice. Influential nurse leaders demonstrate integrity by making judgments based on ethical principles, show transparency by taking responsibility for their acts, and assess the extent to which their colleagues conform to norms of professional practice. Environmental Health and Resource Utilization: Nursing leadership promotes wellness among all healthcare personnel and guarantees that patients may get effective care in a safe and healthy setting (James et al.., 2021). Nursing leaders demonstrate professionalism and leadership by establishing essential relationships and working together with other members of the healthcare team on delicate issues. Leaders in the nursing field can assess choices with an eye on the organization’s future success by exercising their critical thinking abilities. They proceed to elucidate the reasoning in a way that garners staff endorsement. Displaying empathy and compassion are additional nursing leadership abilities that can help the nurse leader build relationships and earn respect.
Relationship between leadership qualities and the role of Practical nurse
The successful provision of patient care and the general operation of healthcare teams are significantly impacted by the connection between leadership skills and the position of a Practical Nurse (PN). A positive work culture is created when PNs show motivation and ambition. The healthcare team as a whole can benefit from this trait since it increases efficiency, motivates people to go above and beyond, and improves patient care outcomes. Promising to act ethically and professionally boosts PNs’ credibility, creates a pleasant workplace, and helps gain patients’ trust. The ability to connect with patients on an emotional level, empathy, meet their needs, and treat the whole person depends on PNs’ capacity for empathy and compassion. Critical thinking aids in care planning and responding to patients’ evolving needs. Communicating when working with other medical experts, informing patients about their treatment plans, and teaching them how to care for themselves is essential.
PART B
Reflection
Professionalism in nursing encompasses the demonstration of competence and expertise in nursing practice. Exhibiting nursing professionalism entails delivering exceptional patient care while adhering to principles of honesty, responsibility, and regard. An instance occurred when I first encountered challenges in providing medication, resulting in unforeseen technical complications that disrupted the smooth progress of the activity for the individuals I was collaborating with. The nursing leader demonstrated professionalism by assuming control, gently instructing students, and collaborating with technical assistance to remedy the issues rapidly. The nursing leader demonstrates adaptability by promptly evaluating the problem, making decisive choices to tackle the obstacles, and successfully communicating with the team. They instill trust by maintaining composure under duress, guaranteeing the seamless continuation of the simulation despite unforeseen circumstances. An instance illustrating the application of the ethics of care is the care provided to a kid of a different nationality when the nurse experiences discomfort and struggles to comprehend the patient’s communication. The approach in this scenario is exclusively rooted in empathy and respect.
Providing safe and effective patient care during a flu epidemic is an example of a scenario in which the environmental health and resource utilization role of nursing are applicable. Many patients have arrived, and the nursing staff had to find ways to care for them all while keeping the facility safe and efficient. The nurse takes stock of the facility’s personnel, tools, and bed capacity. The nurse takes strict steps to avoid the spread of the virus within the hospital and carries out triage, recognizing the necessity for efficient utilization of resources. Isolating patients with flu symptoms to minimize exposure to others, issuing personal protection equipment (PPE) to staff, and promoting hand hygiene habits are all part of this. Additionally, the facility’s environmental services team collaborates to optimize space. In this case, the hospital can offer safe and effective care amid a difficult flu outbreak because the nurse understands and applies environmental nursing principles.
I had an experience of education and quality practice in the hospital through the emphasis on evidence-based practice. Every nurse must practice based on available evidence of the action they take. For example, they were required to carry out a risk assessment for all patients above 60 years for fall prevention. Evidence-based practice (EBP) oversees the accurate evaluation of patients prone to falls and the execution of measures to forestall such accidents. From this situation, I learned that nurses with the understanding, competence, and self-assurance to use evidence-based practice (EBP) are more likely to make sound clinical decisions, leading to improved patient care and results. I also experience communication and collaboration in different ways in the clinical setting. First was the word rounds, where the nurses worked with another healthcare team member on other patient cases and shared ideas on the most effective plan. Discussing treatment plans and giving instructions to all nursing team members is another way to show communication in the setting.
Conclusion
Competent nursing leaders are essential to negotiate the perpetual transformation of healthcare effectively. Nurse leaders undertake tasks beyond the management of expenses, productivity monitoring, and the upkeep of patient and staff happiness. This paper has examined various leadership styles applicable in the nursing field, the essential attributes of a practical nursing leader, and the correlation between leadership skills and the responsibilities of a practical nurse. It has also provided my reflection on instances where nursing quality was observed in the hospital environment among nursing leaders. When a team holds a deep appreciation for the traits exhibited by their leader, it enhances their overall morale and fosters a psychologically secure workplace environment. Consequently, this results in increased job satisfaction and higher employee retention rates. Prominent nursing leaders communicate the organization’s vision effectively to the nursing staff while providing guidance and mentorship to future nursing leaders.
References
American Nursing Association. (2023, February 23). Leadership in nursing: Qualities & why it matters. ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/leadership-in-nursing/
MacDonald, S., & Jakubec, S. (n.d.). Community health nursing in Canada – E-book. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books/about/Community_Health_Nursing_in_Canada_E_Boo.html?id=_AtBEAAAQBAJ
James, A. H., Bennett, C. L., Blanchard, D., & Stanley, D. (2021). Nursing and values‐based leadership: A literature review. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(5), 916-930. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jonm.13273?casa_token=nG1DoJZHF5QAAAAA:T357dAyAopBziFEegrswc4COgc7l9KhKssOsLYgTvWQ54O4_PLtDudvnayy4UEnRL12jZ-ZBKvWe9IF2
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