Nursing Leadrship

Leadership, for quite some time it was what I longed for because I knew that I was good at what I did and had excelled in Case Management. I had finally found my passion as a RN Case Manager. When I obtained my first leadership role I quickly learned that it took much more than being good to be a leader, I had to not only excel I had to be excellent. I had new expectations placed on me as I moved forward in my career and a lot of strained friendships.

Nursing leadership means to be determined to do what is best for everyone involved in the receipt and delivery of healthcare. After reading this article my thoughts of leadership has not changed but was confirmed.

One of the first lessons I learned in leadership was balancing my role and my workplace friendships. I had to quickly learn that friendships and leadership could both exist primarily because the foundation of my leadership was based on my relationships with my coworkers. The expectations were both the same, a great leader and a great friend are loyal, honest, compassionate, interdependent and selfless. Great friendships and the opportunity to care for patients are both great privileges and both require boundaries. I had to be a leader first and a friend second.

Fitzpatrick, J., & Glazer, G. (Eds.). (2013). Nursing leadership from the outside in. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.fhsu.edu

One Response

Julie Craft June 12, 2018 at 21:15 | Permalink

I like the comparison that you presented about leadership and friendship. I would agree that characteristics overlap and that the same synergy that makes a friendship work – can prove beneficial as a leader. Additionally, like a good friend, leaders need to present differently depending on what the situation, and the followers might require. At times, there may be a need to listen and consider… other times there might be a need for ‘tough love’ and encouraging staff to overcome a difficult situation or task.

I like the quote in our readings by Hesselbein and Cohen (1999) that described how leaders are ‘healers and unifiers’ and that “leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do” (p. xii). I think that many in our group touched on that concept. Leadership is a state or a way of being – rather than a grocery list of accomplishments or things to do.

Hesselbein, F., & Cohen, P. M. (Eds.). (1999). Leader to leader. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Julie Craft June 12, 2018 at 21:15 | Permalink

I like the comparison that you presented about leadership and friendship. I would agree that characteristics overlap and that the same synergy that makes a friendship work – can prove beneficial as a leader. Additionally, like a good friend, leaders need to present differently depending on what the situation, and the followers might require. At times, there may be a need to listen and consider… other times there might be a need for ‘tough love’ and encouraging staff to overcome a difficult situation or task.

I like the quote in our readings by Hesselbein and Cohen (1999) that described how leaders are ‘healers and unifiers’ and that “leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do” (p. xii). I think that many in our group touched on that concept. Leadership is a state or a way of being – rather than a grocery list of accomplishments or things to do.

Hesselbein, F., & Cohen, P. M. (Eds.). (1999). Leader to leader. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

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