Important Factors of Effective Leadership in Nursing
Leadership in general, regardless of the settings in which it is practiced, can be described as a social process where an individual influences others to offer their efforts towards the realization of a common goal. Leaders should be charismatic, visionary, and transformational, as well as aligned with the goals and culture of the organization (Sellars, 2013, p. 12). They should be trustworthy and proficient in their practice.
The context of leadership practice also has some impact on leadership practice and the leadership process since different levels of commitment and other characteristics are required. The context of nursing leadership is unique in many respects and mandates a unique set of leadership characteristics for dealing with members of staff, patients, their friends, and relatives. The individual characteristics of aleader such as problem solving skills are also central to leadership effectiveness. In this view, leadership in nursing involves practitioners that have acquired some level of expertise in the field and are able to influence others to effectively work towards meeting nursing goals.
Apart from direct clinical practices, a nurse leader should empowerand provideguidance to other nurses. In addition, the values and beliefs of nurse leaders should reflect those of nursing practice (Sellars, 2013, p. 14). They should also enhance the operational functioning of their unit in addition to providing high quality care. Ultimately, these factors are central to improving the quality of nursing care and patient outcomes.
My Skills and Attributes that are Essential to Nursing Leadership
Personal attributes are significant in the development and practice of leadership. Macphee, Skelton-Green, Bouthillette and Suryaprakash (2012, p. 160-161) noted that leaders often have some inherent qualities such as charisma, trustworthiness, reliability, and the ability to influence others and achieve a common goal. As the contention often arises on whether leaders are born or made, I believe that these attributes can be inculcated through training and practice.
In evaluating my nursing leadership potential, I am aware that in addition to some innate leadership qualities, I have also acquired some fundamental characteristics in my years of training that have prepared me to become a leader in the nursing profession. One of these qualities that I have always been proud is that I am an effective problem solver. Being the first born in my family, I always had the responsibility of taking care of my four younger siblings whenever my parents were not around. The leadership environment cultivated my ability to recognize an issue that needed fixing and to find ways to solve the problem. This quality is invaluable in nursing leadership where problems often occur yet the cause remains hidden and elusive. Being able to look further into the causality ensures the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of the solution.
Being empathic and compassionate are other attributes critical to nursing leadership. The nursing context involves dealing with people that are in great pain and suffering. The ability to understand theirfeelings will enable me to respond more compassionately, thus, leading by example.
Attributes I Wish to Develop Further to be a more Effective Nurse Leader
Following orders and requirements requires practitioners to be aware of the goals, objectives, and methods of the assignment. Such information is obtained from the leadership through effective communication channels. The ability to communicate goals and objectives concisely enhances leadership (Macphee et al. 2012, p. 162). As much as I am a relatively an effective communicator, I should develop this quality further to become an outstanding nurse leader. The nursing context is a discipline that requires high levels of accuracy.. Having the ability to clearly declare my expectations promises more effective practice and superior care of patients. Being a better communicator will enhance understanding and eliminate mistakes caused by misinterpretations of facts that often risk patients’ lives.
My Personal Plan for Leadership Development
One-time education or training is rarely adequate in any professional field. Kvist, Tahka, Ruotsalainen and Tervo-Heikkinen (2014, p.181) recommended that continuous development is the key to sharpening skills, gaining experience, and acquiring new and latest knowledge, leading to improved performance. My personal plan for leadership is three-pronged: Experience, ongoing education, and training. I intend to proactively seek situations that provide me with opportunities to develop my leadership skills, especially in the nursing context. I feel that it is not enough to have knowledge and skills about leadership but the continuous application in real-life settings is the key to identifying leadership gaps and improving current knowledge.
On training, I will attend conferences, seminars, and workshops for leaders, which will equip me with knowledge of latest trends, research in nursing leadership, as well as allow me to collaborate with other practitioners in the field. Finally, enrolling in more formal courses in a professional institution will expand my knowledge about effective leadership in general and within the nursing context. Through ongoing education, I will a recognize my leadership shortcomings and improve on them through l practice.
References
Kvist, T., Tahka, K., Ruotsalainen, M., & Tervo-Heikkinen, T. (2014) The impact of nursing
leadership training on evidence-based leadership and practice. Journal of Nursing
Care, 3(4), 181-187.
Macphee, M., Skelton-Green, J., Bouthillette, F., & Suryaprakash, N. (2012) An
empowerment framework for nursing leadership development: Supporting evidence.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68, 159-169.
Sellars. B. (2013). Transforming care through leadership and research alignment.
Nursing Management, 44(12), 12-15.
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