Module 3: Nursing Theories at Work

Part I: Reporting on the CASAGRA Transformative Leadership Theory

A Module in
Theoretical Foundations in Nursing
Presented to
Maria Geralyn D. Gotico, RN, MAN
Graduate School – Nursing Program
St. Paul University Iloilo

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree

Master of Science in Nursing

Vicente L. Magallanes Jr., BSN, RN

April 28, 2009

 A REPORT ON
THE CASAGRA TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP MODEL
AND THE
SERVANT LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR OF NURSING FACULTY

I.INTRODUCTION

The author of the theory is Sr. Carolina Agravante, SPC, RN, PhD and the theory was
published in 2002.
Sr. Carol Agravante finished her baccalaureate degree in Nursing at St. Paul College of
Manila in 1964. She then took up her Masteral Degree in Nursing Education at the Catholic
University of America in 1970, and finally earned her Doctoral Degree in Philosophy in
University of Manila on April 2002, the same time her Theory was published.
She was a class salutatorian when she graduated from high school at St. Paul College of
Manila. She earned her Bachelor’s degree as a Magna Cum Laude and a first placer in the
Board exam for Nurses on the year 1964. She was a university scholar while studying for her
Master’s degree at CUA for 1967 to 1969.
Currently, Sr. Carol is the president of the St. Paul University of Iloilo since her
installation last 2004. Aside from that she is the current president of the Association of the
Deans of the Philippine Colleges of Nursing. She had represented the said association during
the International Nursing Congress in Brunei in 1996 and became a delegate at the International
Council of Nursing in Vancouver, Canada in 1997. She is also an accreditor of the Philippine
Accreditation Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities up to now to which she also
obtained a Service Award from the said accrediting body.
She had been a dean of several nursing colleges in the Philippines before her current
assignment namely: Bethlehem University, St. Paul College of Manila, De La Salle University
College of Nursing and Midwifery, a former Principal of St. Paul School of Nursing, and
eventually Director of St. Paul College of Iloilo.
She was also a founding member of the Integrated Registered Nurses of the Philippines
and a Secretary of the Friendly Care Foundation from 2000 to present.
II. THE THEORY AS DEFINED
The complete title of the model is:
The CASAGRA Transformative Leadership Model: Servant – Leader Formula & the
Nursing Faculty’s Transformative Leadership Behavior.

The theory “CASAGRA Transformative Leadership” is a psycho spiritual model.

It is coined after the name of the investigator: Sr. CArolina S. AGRAvante

The model is a Three-Fold Transformation Leadership Concept rolled into one,

comprising of the following elements:
A.Servant-Leader Spirituality;
B.Self-Mastery expressed in a vibrant care complex;
C.Special Expertise level in the nursing field one is engaged in.
These elements rolled into one make-up the personality of the modern professional
nurse who will challenge the demands of these crucial times in society today.

THE THREE-FOLD TRANSFORMATION LEADER CONCEPT IN DETAIL

I. The Servant-Leadership Spirituality here is prescribed to run parallel to the generic
elements of the transformative leadership model.

This formula consists of a spiritual exercise, the determination of the vitality of the care
complex in the personality of an individual and finally a seminar workshop on transformative
teaching.

The servant-leader formula prescription includes a spiritual retreat that goes through the
process of awareness, contemplation, story telling, reflection, and finally commitment to become
servant-leaders in the footsteps of Jesus.

II. The Self-Mastery consists of a vibrant care complex possessed to a certain degree by all
who have been through formal studies in a care giving profession such as nursing.

III. The Special-Expertise level is shown in a creative, caring, critical, contemplative and
collegial teaching of the nurse faculty who is directly involved with the formation of the nursing.
III. THE THEORY AS ASSERTED
The CASAGRA Servant-Leadership Theory is the major breakthrough that the
nursing profession urgently needs. The harmony and synergy in being a servant and a
leader as well must be manifest in the nursing graduate by TRANSFORMING faculty with
the servant-leader formula.

The professional nurse must harmonize and manifest the other side of the service coin,
which is the conscious choice to aspire to lead while washing ones another's feet as Jesus
did.

Transformative teaching for nursing guarantees the nursing students’ formation

as nursing leaders in the art of caring which only an artist for whom caring is second
nature can teach. This is the first lesson learned by nursing students at the lap of the
nursing faculty of her school.

The transformative teacher is basically the one who looks into her self vis-à-vis her
profession, sees her assumptions and feelings in the light of the nursing profession in modern
days, how her own philosophy of life affects her professional life and her students.

Worldwide leadership crises have demanded the nursing leaders to REVISIT the
formation of future nursing leaders.
The TIME to revisit the leadership formation as modeled by nursing faculty is NOW.
The focus is on leadership style of Jesus himself who has become the model in the
nursing profession of service as synonymous with leadership.
The nursing profession needs leaders who will model for the profession that which is
beautiful, true, and good in this new millennium.

The new millennium has brought in its wake challenges that may be answered by new
models, new expressions and new perspectives of looking at the profession
Thus the challenge to adapt new paradigms is imperative or is a must.
Jesus himself declared to his disciples: “new wine is poured into fresh wineskins, and
both will keep in good condition.
The prescribed Model for nursing leadership was conceived as a three-fold
transformative leadership concept rolled into one.
III. THE THEORY AS A MODEL
IV. THEORY AS CLASSIFIED
The CASAGRA Transformative Leadership Theory is classified as a Practice Theory
basing on the characteristics of a Practice Theory stated by McEwen (2007), which are the
following:
a. Complexity / Abstractness, Scope - Focuses on a narrow view of reality, simple and
straightforward;
b. Generalizibility /Specificity - Linked to a special populations or an identified field of
practice;
c. Characteristic of Scope – Single, concrete concept that is operationalized;
d. Characteristic of Proposition – Propositions defined;
e. Testability – Goals or outcomes defined and testable;
f. Source of Development – Derived from practice or deduced from middle range
theory or grand theory.