The Role Of Nurse Leadership

Nursing managers and nurse leaders are integral parts of the healthcare system. Together they can enhance patient care, contribute to overall satisfaction of patients and employees, and lead the way of change in the ever-changing healthcare system. However, nurse managers and leaders are not necessarily interchangeable titles. Nursing leadership is not limited to a managerial role and nurse leaders can arise in a variety of roles.
The role of nurse managers is extensive. Nurse manager is a specific position with specific responsibilities and obligations. Nurse managers need to be task-oriented and over see the day to day functioning of their unit or organization, as well as manager their employees. They are integral in executing organizational
Leaders are those who motivate and guide others to enhance patient care and achieve organizational goals (Giltinane CL, 2013). Specific personality traits unique to a leader have been described as courageous, confident, ability to prioritize, display ethical fitness, and work with purpose (Grimm, 2010). The traits of a leader can extend to any individual, not just those in a management position.
Leaders can arise in a variety of roles. Staff nurses and charge nurses can be effective leaders by simply assisting other staff with difficult assignments, encouraging others to keep morale up and being a team player. Research has emphasized the importance of leaders in all levels of nursing. A systematic review of literature revealed a positive relationship between relational leadership styles and higher patient satisfaction, reduction in medication errors, decreased patient mortality, decreased use of restraints and a decrease in hospital-acquired infections (Wong, Cummings, & Ducharme,
While I feel more inspired to become a transformational leader, a multifaceted leader would be more effective and ideal. The full-range theory incorporates not only the transformational leadership style, but transactional and laissez-fair leadership styles (Witges & Scanlan, 2014). The theory is based on a successful leader incorporating certain characteristics from each leadership style to become the most effective leader. There is also evidence showing effective leadership incorporates transformational leadership as well as transactional when facilitating change (Richter et al., 2016). I believe the take away from this research is to truly be an effective leader is to not limit one’s self to a specific leadership style, but to incorporate multiple