Running Head: NURSING LEADERSHIP GOALS 1

Nursing Leadership Goals

Delaware Technical Community College Terry Campus

Nursing Leadership NUR 400

Brittnay Lengle
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Introduction

The healthcare field is constantly changing. New nurses are graduating and being hired

constantly. Medicine is constantly evolving and changing how we do procedures and changing

policies every day. As a future nurse leader I want to be a leader for other nurses on the floor. I

want to guide new nurses and help them grow and learn. I do not plan on taking a nurse

leadership role such as a nurse manager or educator. In the nursing profession any nurse can be a

leader in any position they hold. In the future I plan to incorporate multiple leadership theories

into my practice.

Leadership Theory

As a registered nurse trying to incorporate leadership into my daily practice I would like

to incorporate multiple leadership styles in my daily work. As a registered nurse I do not plan on

taking a leadership position such as a manager or educator. I would prefer to stay on the floor

and be a role model for new nurse entering the work force. A chosen theory I would like to

incorporate into my nursing practice would be connective leadership theory. Connective

leadership theory incorporates teamwork into leadership styles (Finkleman.2016). As a registered

nurse working in the healthcare field it is extremely important to work with other nurses,

physicians and other medical staff. What nurse do in the medical field can not be taken lightly

and should never be belittled. Nurses have patients lives in their hands every day they go to

work. That is why it is so crucial to work well with others and have good communication skills.

Connective leadership also focuses on caring about your fellow coworkers and patients.

“Interconnectedness is a key element in health care today with the increasing emphasis on the

continuum of services to meet the needs of patients and communities across the age span and

different delivery settings” (Finkleman.2016).

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Drucker’s theory also is another leadership style that incorporates teamwork. Drucker’s

theory allows coworkers to be involved in decision making within the facility. By allowing

coworkers to be involved in decision making it allows for new nurses to learn how to become

nurse leaders as well (Finkelman. 2016). It is important as a nurse leader to help fellow

coworkers grow and learn so that way when the nurse leader leaves the floor knows that anyone

can step in and becoming the leader. As a nurse leader it is important to commit to be a leader

(Guyton.2012). Nurse leaders must commit to what they are doing, create leaders, show fellow

nurses how to care for patients and show them how to be accountable for their actions (Guyton.

2012). Being a nurse leader that communicates effectively and provides a friendly work

environment can help increase coworker satisfaction and help with retention. “Efforts by

organizations and individuals to encourage and develop transformational and relational

leadership are needed to enhance nurse satisfaction, recruitment, retention, and healthy work

environments, particularly in this current and worsening nursing shortage” (Cummings. 2010).

Transformational leadership is also a leadership that supports shared communication and

teamwork between coworkers. This allow for coworkers to feel as though they are appreciated

and cared about in the work place. It is important for coworkers to feel as though they have a

say. If coworkers do not feel like they are appreciated they are more likely to leave and go

somewhere where they will be appreciated by their fellow leaders (Frandsen. 2014).

Leadership Theory in progress

As a nurse leader I plan on using these leadership roles as a charge nurse and code

responder. At this point in my career I am a newer nurse and I do not plan on taking on a role

such as a nurse manager or educator. I plan on using these theories as a charge nurse on my floor

and as a code responder. As a code responder the role for my floor is to record and tell people
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what to do and when to do it. Having this role can be frustrating at times depending on what skill

set the other nurses have. As a code responder it is important to remember that not all nurses

have the same skill set that I have, and it is important to remember to use good communication

skills (Finkleman,2016). As a code responder we use downward communication, which means

we are telling another coworker what to do and when to do it. While using downward

communication it is always important to never belittle the other nurse and to always remain

calm. During codes and rapid response situations I have experienced many ICU nurse belittle

medical surgical nurses, which is completely unprofessional and makes for a hostile

environment. I always try to be a role model to the ICU nurses when I respond, and I always try

to stay calm and treat the medical surgical nurses with respect. As a charge nurse a combination

of communications are used. Downward communication, upward communication and lateral

communication are used. Lateral communication is used when we are sharing information about

patients. Upward communication is when my fellow coworkers have something they need to tell

me that needs to be changed (Finkleman,2016). As a charge nurse I plan to use the theories I

have discussed about previously in the paper. I plan to keep a teamwork and caring environment

when I am working on the floor. Even if I am not charge nurse it is still important to keep an

environment that everyone enjoys. Leadership styles of leaders has a significant effect of

coworkers (Demissie. 2013).

Conclusion

In conclusion, my goals as a nurse leader include me staying a nurse leader on the unit.

As a nurse leader I plan to incorporate a few nurse leadership styles into my workplace. The

leadership styles I plan to use are transformation leadership, Drucker’s theory and connective

leadership. It is important as a nurse leader to use more than one leadership. All leaderships have
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their disadvantages and advantages. I believe incorporating teamwork and showing my fellow

coworkers caring and compassion creates an effective work environment. As a nurse leader it is

also important to use effective communication when communicating with other coworkers.
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References

Cummings, G.,Davey, M. & Lee, H. (2010). Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the

nursing workforce and work environment: A systematic review. Retrieved from:

https://www.journalofnursingstudies.com/article/S0020-7489(09)00283-1/fulltext

Demissie, A & Neguisse, D. (March 23, 2013). Relationship Between Leadership Styles of

Nurese Managers and Nurses' Job Satisfaction in Jimma University Specialized Hospital.

Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613815/

Finkelman, A. (2016) Leadership and management for nurses: Core competencies for quality

care. (3rd ed.) New York: Pearson Education.

Frandsen, B. (March 11,2014). 6 Leadership Types – The Pros and Cons for Nurse Leader.

Retrieved from: https://www.aadns-ltc.org/Resources/Nurse-Leader-Blog/details/post/6-

leadership-types-the-pros-and-cons-for-nurse-leaders/2014-03-11

Guyton, N. (2012). Nine principles of successful nursing leadership. Retrieved from:

https://www.americannursetoday.com/nine-principles-of-successful-nursing-leadership/