Nursing leader to me means someone that is leading by example, in other words when it comes to professionalism “it is  do as  I do and not as I say only”. I had a leader that was a great influence in my  career. I  knew her from a far but she made a positive  professional impact on me. I was then a personal care assistant(PCA) in an assistant living , my executive director who was also a nurse was the leader that I am referring to. Anytime she passed at the dinning area and she saw the  PCAs cleaning up, she comes up to us and help for like 2 minutes before moving on, anytime nurses and supervisors were not available, she comes on the floor as a nurse without a single word of complain.

A leader might be up in position but should still be accessible at any level, a leader should have the knowledge of the tasks of his/her followers to better direct patient care , schedule and be a team member. Leadership is not separated from followers, unlike management it is an extension of the people that is been led. Leadership understands the tasks and tasks obstacles, manages the followers, and seek for better service delivery.

The above is what leadership means to me, and what I try to practice in my current role.

It is true that leadership can be learnt from other profession but a believe that nurses leaders should be nurses