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Explain the concept of servant leadership in theory and practice
Explain the concept of servant leadership in theory and practice
Explain the concept of servant leadership in theory and practice
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With the realization that healthcare has succumbed to a business model, the demand for outstanding leadership is an essential component in the success of any business. Nurses are an intricate part of the healthcare arena with the profession expected to become the second largest occupation by 2014 (Sullivan & Decker, 2009). Dispelling myths for this volume of nurses needs to be paramount in order to provide a clear vision void of misconceptions. One particular myth is that leaders are at the top of the pyramid and need to be served. Debunking this myth can provide a better understanding of a prosperous nursing leader’s function. This nurse found the myth to be of importance because working in a magnet institution the leadership style that builds empirical results is built on transformation leadership. The purpose of the paper is not only to dispel the myth that leaders need to be served, but provide evidence that leaders need to be a servant.
Merriam Webster describes a pyramid as having outside walls in the shape of four triangles that meet at a tip. Correlating this image to leadership pyramid myth the tip would serve as the leader of the institution or group and the area under the tip would serve as subordinate team members that conform to the commands and direction of the one leader. The goal would be for all members to meet the needs of the leader, whether the team shared the leader’s goals or not. The decision making power would be in the hands of the leader. This leadership style may have benefits in a crisis such as a code, where the leader may need to be served for the greater good of the patient, but even in this situation the common goal is shared.
In an attempt to debunk the pyramid myth similar conclusions resonated in the literature reviewed , that nursing leaders that produced the greatest success empowered staff and helped develop a common goal (Bally, 2007 & Buerhaus, 2010). According to Sherman and Poss 2010 flourishing leadership styles involve a “paradigm shift from a traditional command-and-control style of staff supervision toward a transformational style of leadership in which leaders enhances the motivation, morale, and performance of their follower groups”. The relationship between this transformational leadership style and staff satisfaction was immense. The leader found team players who wanted to participate. This type of leadership is a far cry from the single leader pyramid.
Magnet hospitals are named for their potential to attract and retain qualified nurses. Magnet hospitals are facilities that have been certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for promoting positive patient outcomes through best practices in nursing (Upenieks, 2003). The Magnet environment fosters autonomy and professional nursing practice. Research shows that Magnet hospitals have better work environments, a more highly educated nursing workforce, superior nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, and higher nurse satisfaction than non-Magnet hospitals (Aiken, Kelly, & McHugh, 2011). Implementation of that environment requires the ability to create trust, accountability, and open communication in changing times. The American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) organized 14 Forces of Magnetism into 5 Model Components to measure outcomes for the Magnet Recognition program. The first of the five components, Transformational Leadership, encompasses two of the 14 Forces of Magnetism: Quality of Nursing Leadership and Management Style (American Nurses Credentialing Center). The leadership approach best suited for the pursuance of Magnet recognition would be a transformational leadership approach. Nurse executives in a Magnet institution require the ability to foresee the future needs of healthcare, and must devise plans of action to meet those needs. They must communicate, monitor, engage, and inspire others toward the common goal. Management, likewise, has to communicate ideas and monitor progress, but must also be prepared to organize the undertaking and implementation of future pathways.
Lorber, M., Treven, S., & Mumel, D. (2016). The Examination of Factors Relating to the Leadership Style of Nursing Leaders in Hospitals. Our Economy (Nase Gospodarstvo), 62(1), 27-36. doi:10.1515/ngoe-2016-0003
Whitehead, D. K., Weiss, S. A., & Tappen, R. M. (2010). Essentials of nursing leadership and
The most appropriate leadership style for Jenny’s situation is one that is fluid and ever changing based on the situation and/or needs of the individuals being lead. In path-goal theory, the intensity of interactions and the type of interactions are adjusted based on the goals of the outcome and the needs of the followers (Kelly, 2012). Because the skill level of nurses vary, the flow of the environment is disorganized, there are high turnover rates of staff, and the needs of the patients are complex it is best to implement actions based on the varying needs of the department and its nurses. Path-goal theory utilizes four leadership styles that are dependent on the needs of the follower in an attempt to build a cohesive team that are motivated by feeling they are capable of doing the work, knowing what they contribute to the organization will help to accomplish its goals, and by believing their efforts are appreciated and meaningful (Kelly,
Nursing is an ever changing profession, making strong leadership a crucial aspect. “Nursing leaders play a significant role in creating positive work environments for nurses” (Young – Ritchie, Laschinger, & Wong, 2007, para 1). This paper will define the concept of leadership in nursing. Many qualities are required to be a successful nursing leader. Some of the qualities discussed in this paper are: supporting and empowering team members, being well organized, remaining consistent with their expectations, and being able to effectively communicate with their team. Furthermore, this paper will identify the relationship between leadership qualities and role of the Practical Nurse.
If there is not strong leadership in nursing, I believe the profession will continue to lose exceptional nurses, since leadership in the workplace influences nurses intent to stay (Cowden et al., 2011, p. 462). Leadership is the process whereby the leader attempts to motivate individuals to achieve a collective goal (Cowden et al., 2011, p. 462). Transformational leaders are focused on achieving a common goal by fostering growth and change. This type of leadership decreases power imbalances as it strives to empower all members of the group. A transformational leader is one who encourages intrinsic reward amongst individuals (Nielsen, 2013, p.128). Grossman and Valiga (2013) comment on the power of transformational leadership and state: “this motivation energizes people to perform beyond expectations by creating a sense of ownership in reaching the vision” (p.
The nursing career has a growing workforce, spurred on by the high demand for caregivers. The growing need for nurses has caused in influx of new nurses, graduating from school and ready to begin their career. Although there are many different work settings for nurses, one universal aspect of assisting new nurses is nursing leadership. Leaders within nursing are tasked with assisting new nurses as well as those who are veteran nurses, and their role is indispensible. “Health leaders model the behavior expected in the organization” (Ledlow & Stephens, 2018). Susan Eckert, the senior vice-president of nursing and chief nursing executive at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, is a prime example of a nursing leader.
For me as a newly qualified member of staff entering into an established team I found Anne’s high morals and consistency were the basis for her providing me with a positive role model. She believed best practice was the minimum and would always ensure every patient experienced the best care possible. IIies (et al.2012) believes that managers should be role models that their followers seek to emulate. A study by Hauck,Winsett and Kuric (2012) concluded that leadership can affect nurses ability to provide evidence based care. They advocate nursing leaders need to be role models and mentors to their staff. Dang and Poe (2010, cited in Poe and White, 2010, p.23-53) outline seven core nursing leadership competencies needed to successfully implement
Servant leadership consists of leaders helping their followers become leaders themselves. The use personal skills such as empathy, compassion and listening to help their followers succeed. It is not necessarily the most popular form of leadership but, it has been proven successful b those leaders who implement it in their work practices. Servant leaders typically have a strong bond with their team. They are the base and the foundation of their teams.
Change requires the reshaping of ideas and the ability to communicate the vision. Influencing others and the ability to develop relations ships is essential. Nurse leaders successfully manage change by directing, guiding, motivating and supporting staff. They communicative and inspire trust (Samela et al., 2011). Since leadership is a skill that is learned over time, education at all levels of nursing within an organization is essential. Nursing leaders within an organization are encouraged to move away from the traditional nursing service models and move to shared and distributed leadership models. An example of distributed leadership model would be shared governance, where bed-side nurses have the opportunity to have input regarding organizational change (MacLeod,
The ever changing health care field call for leaders that are dynamic, and innovative and incorporate critical thinking to match the demands of the health care industry. A successful nurse leader would be the one that is open to new ideas from others by way of research findings to simple ways to execute a task in the clinical arena. The doctorally prepared nurses are the future leaders of nursing and as such their education (DNP curriculum) should gear towards preparing these future leaders to be transformational leaders. Transformational Leadership was originally developed by Burns who describes it as “... a process whereby leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation” (Karen Drenkard, 2012). These leaders
In healthcare it is very important to have strong leaders, especially in the nursing profession. A nurse leader typically uses several styles of leadership depending on the situation presented; this is known as situational leadership. It is important that the professional nurse choose the right style of leadership for any given situation to ensure their employees are performing at their highest potential. Depending on which leadership style a nurse leader uses, it can affect staff retention and the morale of the employees as well as nurse job satisfaction (Azaare & Gross, 2011.) “Nursing leaders have the responsibility to create and maintain a work environment which not only promotes positive patient outcomes but also positively influences teams and individual nurses” (Malloy & Penprase, 2010.) Let’s explore two different leadership styles and discuss how they can enhance or diminish the nursing process.
Effective leadership has a great impact in what direction the team takes. They have great communication skills and are very easy to talk to and approach. Employees look up to the nurse leader for reassurance and comfort when things are not so bright. Leaders are very compassionate and caring individuals. They are not afraid to take risk in order to reach their goals. Nurse leaders will go the extra mile for his or staff and patients. From a leader standpoint, providing quality care to every patient is a priority. Leaders are usually on the floor with the nurses and are very aware of the work load. Leaders can better understand the nurse’s frustration about the staffing ratio. Sometimes having four patients feels like six because of the acuity level. When faced with a situation like not having enough staff to work a shift, leaders are quick to call in an extra nurse to come and work. Reducing the work load and proving effective quality care to the patients is what a leader usually has in mind. Leaders are not thinking about the hospital budget and deficits. They look at the big picture which is staff shortage and the work that needs to get done. The leaders goal is to keep everyone safe and happy. According to Stanley (2006), leaders tend to be solitary, proactive, intuitive, emphatic and attracted to situations of high risk; they ask the 'why not ' question and 'do the right thing. Therefore, a leader will do everything he or she can to accommodate patients and nurses
Nurses are uniquely qualified to fill a demand for change through leadership. Unlike business minded individuals whose primary outcome concern is monetary, a nurses’ primary concern is organic: a living, breathing, tangible being. In a leadership role, a nurse might consider an organization as if it were a grouping of patients, or perhaps an individual patient, each limb with its own characteristics and distinct concerns. They can effectively categorize and prioritize important personal and professional matters and are therefore ideally positioned to lead change efforts. Perhaps most importantly, effective nurse leaders can provide clarity to the common goal and empower others to see their self-interests served by a better common good (Yancer, 2012).
In today’s society, leadership is a common yet useful trait used in every aspect of life and how we use this trait depends on our role. What defines leadership is when someone has the capability to lead an organization or a group of people. There are many examples that display a great sense of leadership such being an educator in health, a parent to their child, or even a nurse. In the medical field, leadership is highly used among nurses, doctors, nurse managers, director of nursing, and even the vice president of patient care services. Among the many positions in the nursing field, one who is a nurse manager shows great leadership. The reason why nurse manager plays an important role in patient care is because it is known to be the most difficult position. As a nurse manager, one must deal with many patient care issues, relationships with medical staff, staff concerns, supplies, as well as maintaining work-life balance. Also, a nurse manager represents leadership by being accountable for the many responsibilities he or she holds. Furthermore, this position is a collaborative yet vital role because they provide the connection between nursing staff and higher level superiors, as well as giving direction and organization to accomplish tasks and goals. In addition, nurse managers provide nurse-patient ratios and the amount of workload nursing staff has. It is their responsibility to make sure that nursing staff is productive and well balanced between their work and personal lives.