Nursing leadership is a concept that was talked about in nursing school, but the subject was not exaggerated on while obtaining my ADN. To me, nursing leadership speaks of those who are willing to make a change and help lead others to do the same. While reading, Fitzpatrick and Glazer (2013) make valid points that leadership does not come with a position of authority like many believe. Managers are not always good leaders and vise versa. The readings helped me distinguish the difference. Fitzpatrick and Glazer also pointed out to me that leadership is important for change in healthcare and it starts with us by incorporating it into our learning and Bachelor degrees (2013).
During my short experience as a nurse, I have witnessed both democratic and autocratic leadership behaviors. I have found that I learn the most from democratic leadership style as everyone is able to be more involved in decisions and participate in care or activities than when compared to autocratic. La Monica states, “Each leader behavior style can be appropriate, depending on the situation” (2005). I have found that my leadership behaviors change depending on the situation. For emergency patient care, I definitely take charge but for making assignments or discussing patient problems, I am more of a democratic leader. It is this flexibility that makes leaders easier to work with in my experience as they are able to adjust to whatever the needs are around them.
References:
Fitzpatrick, J. and Glazer, G. (2013). Nursing leadership from the outside in. Retrieved from
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com.ezproxy.fhsu.edu:2048/lib/fhsu/detail.action?docID=423601.
La Monica, E. (2005). Management and leadership in nursing and health care: An experiential approach
(2nd ed.). Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com.ezproxy.fhsu.edu:2048/lib/fhsu/detail.action?docID=1179230.
Management and leadership are two different things like you pointed out. I have worked with several nurses on the floor that have stronger leadership skills than some in a management position. A good leader has to be open to change and new ideas and I agree that styles of leadership depend on the situation. It takes experience to learn which leadership style is appropriate for a situation.
Caitlin,
I remember leadership being discussed in my ADN program as well. It was a short discussion, but it did make an impact on my views. I like how you mentioned that being a good leader does not necessarily mean someone of authority, such as a manager. That was the one thing that stuck with me when learning about leadership in nursing school, and it was reinforced when reviewing this modules content. Great post!
You know well about yourself I believe that one of essence for great leader. You have already willing to change yourself and your carrier. You have observation skills too. I do not know how long you are doing nursing but I fill you will have great carrier in leadership.
I agree with you as well as the text that leadership and management come from two different perspectives. It takes a good leader to know which persona to put forth given the situation. I have found in myself that I am similar to you, given and emergency situation I seem to take charge whereas when decisions to be made in a group setting, I often sit back and listen to other’s input.
I don’t remember leadership versus management being talked about at all when I was in school, however that has been a few years. I think it is a great topic all those working in patient care need to understand. Most people can tell you the traits of a great leader and the characteristics in a leader that they tend to follow. Businesses also have a set of traits they look for when they are looking for management. Sometimes those two just don’t match. What I have found the most interesting in my experience has been when you ask the front line staff who the person they go to for advice or to lead them in certain situations, most of the time it is not a person in a designated management role. The reasons they look to those people as a leader is because they lead by example and they are the kind of person they can relate to.