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Transformational Leader: My Nurse Leadership Theory

Jason Keller

Delaware Technical Community College

Nursing Research NUR400

Patricia Wessell

December 3, 2023
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Transformational Leader: My Nurse Leadership Theory

For such a simple six-letter word as leader, we can take a deep dive into its meaning

which is complex. Straightforwardly put, the definition of a leader is “the one in charge, the

person who convinces people to follow” (Vocabulary.com, n.d.). But this definition is far too

simple for all that encompasses what makes a leader, a leader. A leader not only directs their

followers, but they also inspire their followers through a vision of positive changes. Leaders will

listen, guide, and teach those who choose to follow them. Great leaders will also motivate

themselves and everyone around them. A leader also will be there through the good and difficult

times. The sign of a good leader is that they should trust their staff and the staff themselves

should trust their leaders without hesitation. As you can see, the word is simple but yet intricate.

The word leader is adaptable in that you can attach the word to any career or situation and you’d

be able to make it fit. This holds in the career of nursing. As the world of medicine continually

evolves, nurse leaders are more imperative position than ever. Nurse leaders hold all of these

qualities and more. It’s through actions that a nurse is a leader and not just an authority figure

alone.

The role of a nurse leader is multifaceted. A nurse leader’s “main aim is improving

nursing practice and outcomes. Their approach is less hands-on and more focused on the bigger

picture: implementing the vision, fulfilling the mission, and developing long-term plans for the

organization in which they work” (Nightingale College, 2021). They do this by developing long

and short-term plans and strategies to meet these goals. Some of these goals include reducing

health care costs, reducing patient readmission rates, shortening the average length of stay of

patients, financial responsibilities, and overseeing all safety and quality measures of the unit. The

nurse leader is looking ahead to not only improve the unit as a whole but the staff as well. They
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accomplish this by developing strategies, implementing projects, and helping with the career

growth of staff nurses. They’re also concerned with reducing turnover rates of staffing and

overall job satisfaction.

Leadership style will vary depending on the person and their overall goals. As a leader,

there are different styles one would be considered to be a part of. In a perfect ideal world, one

would possess all different styles of a leader and be able to adapt as situations occur. As we all

know, we don’t live in a perfect world though. Should I ever become a leader in the near future, I

would like to think I’d be a part of the transformational style. According to Clausen et al,

“transformational leadership focuses on the capacity to inspire others, to respond to the needs of

others by empowering them and to consider one’s goals and objectives in relation to those held

by others, the group and the larger organization. Nurse managers who provide support and

communication through a transformational leadership style can have a positive impact on staff

nurses’ work engagement, which ultimately leads to improved organizational outcomes”

(Clausen et al, 2019). As healthcare is becoming more and more complex by the day, the

transformational leader can adapt to not only the organization's goals but to implement them in

their specific unit. “Institutional change draws this kind of leadership because the overall good of

the group is part of the goal” (Scott et al, 2020). It is also said that transformational leaders are

great for preventing nurse burnout, increasing nurse retention, decreasing absenteeism, and

increasing unit effectiveness which all improve patient health outcomes. Post-pandemic, we need

leaders like these to combat the ever-evolving nursing shortage that seems to be never-ending. To

me, this seems to be the biggest issue threatening the career of nursing which is why I picked this

type of leadership style.

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Making this leadership model my own, and establishing a connection with my nursing

peers seems to be a great place to start. Having this connection, I’d be able to inspire staff to

perform beyond their expectations. I would take the time to learn about each team member by

learning their strengths and weaknesses and figuring out what motivates them individually. This

can also establish trust and respect for my leadership capabilities. Having effective

communication skills is also necessary to effectively implement this leadership skill. Mastering

open communication is key to being a transformational leader. This will unite us as one whole

unit. I would also need to incorporate motivation for all staff. Offering encouragement through

difficult times. I would need a clear vision of what the goals should be for the unit and the

organization as a whole. Having innovative thinking and being willing to take risks or think

outside the box will also make me stand out as a transformational leader.

Overall, in my personal opinion, one does not simply become an effective leader from the

start. It takes lifelong development to achieve this status. As I’m just starting my career within

the last year or so, I have a lot to learn and experience. There seems to be no direct pathway

towards leadership. Yes, you can become a bedside nurse, obtain your master’s degree, and

follow the path towards upper management. But that doesn’t mean you’re a leader. For me,

diving into the role of a charge nurse is a great place to start. Learning the ins and outs of running

a shift, connecting and collaborating with my peers, and managing any kind of conflict or

situation will provide experiences to hone in on being a transformational leader. Currently, I am

co-chair of our Unit Practice Council in which decisions can be made that can directly impact

our unit. Within the next year, I will be chair which will also allow me to hone in on the skills of

this type of leadership. As these opportunities arise, more should come along the way in the near

future. I can be a part of other councils within the organization I work for. I can also go to
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leadership conferences as well as partake in courses on said subject. Eventually, I’ll make my

way into a management role as an Assistant Nurse Manager after obtaining my master’s degree.

There I would start learning more responsibilities of that role. I would continue to develop the

transformational leader skills within this position. Finally, should all work out, upper

management roles should open up. There I would have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to

fully incorporate myself as a transformational leader.

Advancing bedside nursing and being a patient advocate is what makes a

transformational type the ideal leader. “Transformational leadership in nursing has far-reaching

implications for patient outcomes and care quality. By fostering a collaborative and patient-

centered approach, empowering nursing staff, encouraging continuous learning, and promoting a

culture of excellence, transformational leaders enhance the overall care experience for patients”

(Ystaas et al, 2023). It’s in a transformational leader’s nature to think outside the box and to take

risks but overall, with staff and patients’ safety in mind. With this being said, for any change or

situation at hand, I should be able to handle them effectively. For example, a study was linked

between the reduction of medication errors and transformational leadership. “The relationship

between nursing management styles and the incidence of [medication errors] has been attributed

to nurses' trust in their managers' practices and its beneficial effect on the promotion of patient

safety. The incidence of [medication errors] is reduced by interactive relationships between

nurses and nurse managers and by trust in nurse managers and their empathy” (Lappalainen et al,

2020). I should also possess the knowledge and the ability to anticipate any upcoming direction

in the near future as well. This doesn’t necessarily mean a problem, but having this ability can

redirect a potential problem and provide a solution.

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Communicating and collaborating with the healthcare team is also why having a

transformational leader is an asset to any organization. As discussed before, this leadership style

does influence behavior which should translate to having successful collaboration within the

organization. Transformational leaders are known to incorporate others on the healthcare team's

beliefs and opinions within their leading abilities. Open communication is necessary and a key

belief for this type of leader. Employee's trust and are willing to communicate with this type of

leader is beneficial because they know their opinion is taken into consideration. This provides

overall satisfaction for all healthcare staff which will then increase collaborative efforts from all

angles. Through a ripple effect, this will also attract more opportunities for higher level of

accreditation to the organization. The American Nurses Credentialing Council, or ANCC, offers

a highly sought after accreditation known as Magnet®. According to the ANCC’s mission, “The

Magnet Recognition Program will continually elevate patient care around the world in an

environment where nurses, in collaboration with the interprofessional team flourish by setting

the standard for excellence through leadership, scientific discovery and dissemination and

implementation of new knowledge” (ANCC, 2023). Through the efforts of transformational

leaders, there is an important connection to the way these leaders lead and obtaining these

Magnet accreditations. To obtain this accreditation, the organization must demonstrate

exceptional nursing care and have strong patient outcomes aligned by a rigorous framework by

the ANCC. “The impact of [transformational leadership] is recognized by the American Nurses

Credentialing Center (ANCC) through the Magnet Recognition Program® (Magnet®), which was

developed in the 1980s upon empirical evidence to enable superior nurse recruitment and

retention in efforts to combat a national nurse shortage. [Transformational leadership] is the first

component of the Magnet® framework and overarches the other four elements: Structural
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Empowerment, Exemplary Professional Practice, New Knowledge, Innovations &

Improvements, and Empirical Outcomes” (Moon et all, 2019). Having this accreditation will

make the organization stand out as top hospitals recognized by the ANCC.

Overall, my goal as a future leader is to be an effective advocate for not only the patients

but for my staff as well. Having a transformational style of leadership has been proven over and

over that this is the quintessential style in providing this advocacy. With the ever-changing

landscape of medicine, transformational leaders are needed to lead the way successfully in

overcoming any challenges this may bring.

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References

Clausen, C., Emed, J., Frunchak, V., Purden, M., & Bruno, F. S. (2019). Toward Resilient Nurse

Leaders: The Leadership-In-Action Program in Nursing (LEAP-IN). Nursing Leadership

(Toronto, Ont.), 32(3), 40–56. https://doi-org.libproxy.dtcc.edu/10.12927/cjnl.2019.25973

Lappalainen, M., Härkänen, M., & Kvist, T. (2020). The relationship between nurse manager’s

transformational leadership style and medication safety. Scandinavian Journal of Caring

Sciences, 34(2), 357–369. https://doi-org.libproxy.dtcc.edu/10.1111/scs.12737

Nightingale College. (2021) Leadership and Management Roles in Nursing: Differences,

Similarities, and Everything Else You Need to Know.

https://nightingale.edu/blog/nursing-leadership-and-management.html

Moon, S. E., Van Dam, P. J., & Kitsos, A. (2019). Measuring Transformational Leadership in

Establishing Nursing Care Excellence. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 7(4), 132.

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7040132

Scott, H. K., Carr-Chellman, D.J. & Hammes, L. (2020). Profound leadership: an integrative

literature review." The Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 13(1), Article 11.

Vocabulary.com. (n.d.). Leader. In Vocabulary.com Dictionary.

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/leader

What is the Magnet Recognition Program: ANCC. ANA. (2019).

https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet/about-magnet/

Ystaas, L. M. K., Nikitara, M., Ghobrial, S., Latzourakis, E., Polychronis, G., Constantinou, C.

S., & Gray, R. (2023). The Impact of Transformational Leadership in the Nursing Work

Environment and Patients’ Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Nursing Reports, 13(3),

1271–1290. https://doi-org.libproxy.dtcc.edu/10.3390/nursrep13030108