What does “Nursing Leadership” mean to you, and how did the meaning change (or stay the same) after viewing the Module content?
- Nursing leadership to me is a mixture of the two sources that we read. I view a nurse leader as a cheerleader, motivating her charges to follow him/her in nursing excellence because the leader has shown him/herself as an example. The module content has helped me to solidify my own theory of nursing leadership. I found the two sources very interesting as Rigolosi (2005) seemed so technical, almost mathematic. Fitzpatrick & Glazer (2013) was more characteristic oriented with an underlying reverential idealism. Both are equally useful in learning leadership theory.
Describe the Leadership behaviors you have observed in yourself and/or colleagues. Could a behavior be modified to create a more effective leadership strategy?
- I had a director that exemplified the type Z democratic leadership, yet he was able to be authoritative. His style was like that was described in Rigolosi (2005). His leadership style changed according to the situation. He was extremely effective and respected by his staff. He did an exemplary job. My leadership style needs honed for sure. I am a bad communicator and assume that everyone knows how to appropriately do their job. I’m a little more Laissez-faire. I need to check in more with my staff to make sure they are keeping up with tasks and round on all of the patients to make sure they are doing ok. It’s a fine line as a charge nurse between making the staff feel supported but not offend them by checking up on their patients. However, more supervision should be given to the new nurses who have finished orientation but need to hone their critical thinking skills.
Fitzpatrick, J., Glazer, G. (Eds.). (2013). Nursing leadership from the outside in. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Rigolosi, E.L.M.E.J. (2005). Management and leadership in nursing and health care: an experiential approach, 2nd edition. Retrieved from
I am also a bad communicator at times and also assume everyone knows how to do their jobs appropriately. I assume if they don’t ask question they know what they are doing. When I was a new nurse I liked a mentor who was willing to communicate their knowledge. Who was approachable and available. I wanted them to teach, but also let me spread my wings. I hope this class helps me with some of those skills.
Yes, I agree. I hate to be micro managed and I appreciate some space, but some need the security of someone being there. I definitely have a lot to learn about communication and leadership. I’m sure we will learn a lot.
I agree with you; I found Rigolosi (2005) very technical and almost too detailed. It definitely defined leadership at a micro-level, as compared to the other text from Fitzpatrick & Glazer (2013). Both texts provided great information and improved my own understanding of leadership. On the other hand, I have found there is always room for improvement when it comes to leadership! As a relatively new nurse, I still find it uncomfortable sometimes to delegate and lead in the workplace. Sometimes I think it makes me ineffective with time management because I may perform tasks on my own or feel like I always have to double-check even the non-delegated/expected tasks, such as roundings and vitals.
Fitzpatrick, J., & Glazer, G. (Eds.). (2013). Nursing leadership from the outside in. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.fhsu.edu
Rigolosi, E. L. M. E. J. (2005). Management and leadership in nursing and health care:an experiential approach, 2nd edition. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.fhsu.edu
Hi, Christy. Just like you, I am also bad at communicating with my co-workers. I do want to help out but I also don’t want to make my co-workers feel like I know everything. I always was bad at telling people to do their job delegating duties to aides and just do things myself but I think I am improving as I am learning.
Hi Christy, great post. I agree with you that there is a fine line between making staff feel supported and not offended that you are hovering. I have become more comfortable in my position at delegating, however I am still struggling with correcting people without stepping on their toes. I like to give them the benefit of the doubt that they know their job like you said, but there are times I want to help more than necessary. I have to remember that most learn by doing and offer my assistance if needed.
Hi Christy,
I enjoyed reading your post. I also find it difficult to communicate at times especially with the nurses aides. I often times find it easier to myself rather than to find them and ask them to it. I also agree the best leaders are the ones who lead depending on the situation. Nursing is such a fluid environment that leaders need to be flexible if they want to be effective.
Thank you everyone for your input. I am sure we will learn more as long as we pay attention. I was impressed with Rigolosi, I didn’t realize that management and leadership behavior could be boiled down to tables, graphics, and math. That is for people much more intelligent than I. My personal opinion is that if we can keep our minds focused on relationships and not merely tasks, we all will be great leaders able to give constructive criticism, and hold people pleasantly accountable. They will know that we care about them and trust them. You and me, we are all in a special position. We may not be the President of the ANA, or the CNO, but we can make change in our own nursing culture by first knowing ourselves. “Knowing self is the first step of the equation for diagnosing the organizational environment” (Rigolosi p. 52). I had something happen early on in my nursing career. I thought I was so smart, so perfect. Well, I messed up. Big time. I learned humility. I’m sure I was a horror to work with because I expected perfection from myself, and logically expected it from others. I hated that had to happen, but I am so thankful for it. Now I am more humble. I expect myself and others to be human. I apologize when I’m wrong, and I am quick to forgive. If we all remember to be humble and kind, and a little less perfect, we can all change our environments where we are.