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Nursing Theory in Leadership

Lauren Moses

Delaware Tech Community College

NUR400 – Nursing Leadership

April 21, 2024

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Nursing Leadership

Nursing leadership is the primary influence on patient care provision and the functioning

of healthcare institutions. Leadership skillfully comprises the capacity to lead, guide, and

motivate others for common objectives, leading to better pat outcomes and an aura of good

performance. This paper examines the use of democratic leadership theory in nursing leadership.

Democratic leadership, along with inclusiveness, participatory decision-making, and

collaboration, offers a promising approach to teamwork improvement, communication

facilitation, and organizational improvement in healthcare institutions (Cummings et al., 2021).

The importance of nurses being led by democratic leadership skills designing a plan to stand for

the needs of patients and handling principles of nursing practice. By studying the role of

democratic leadership in communication, collaboration, care quality assessment, and

accreditation, we can see an emphasis on the importance of progress and the happiness of

patients and medical workers.

Definition of the Nurse Leader Role

A nurse leader has the qualities, skills, and knowledge necessary to motivate, guide, and

direct other individuals in the healthcare setup. They are professionals who assist in setting a

teamwork culture, shaping a culture of collaboration, and representing both patients and the

health workforce. Nurse leaders ensure impeccable patient care by implementing their clinical

expertise, critical thinking, and effective communication (Cummings et al., 2021). The

democratic leadership style, characterized by shared decision-making, open communication, and

the empowerment of team members, corresponds perfectly to the job specifications of a nurse

leader. One way nurse leaders can achieve this is by including their team members in decision-

making processes. Through such an approach, the healthcare team is subjected to cordiality that
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fosters a collaboration where diversity in perceptions is celebrated, culminating in great patient

care. Hence, the democratic leadership style allows nurse leaders to efficiently handle healthcare

delivery challenges and inspire a trusting atmosphere of respect and innovation.

Individualized Plan for Developing Democratic Leadership

Personal Assessment

The path to effective leadership development must begin with a deep self-evaluation.

This process requires that you take a deep look at both your strengths and areas that need

improvement in nursing leadership. The process of introspection and the input and reaction of

friends and superiors to personal observations are irreplaceable in discovering one's leadership

style and abilities (Orukwowu, 2022). Still, one's habit of taking a step further than is necessary

may contribute to micromanagement on a team, which can serve as a target for growth. Through

self-awareness, one can customize the development approach by maximizing one's strengths and

minimizing weaknesses, thus establishing a solid foundation for revered leadership.

Establishment of SMART Goals

Establishing SMART goals is like a map that helps in leadership development by

clarifying the destination and the organizational mandate and setting organizational parameters

regarding accountability and measurability. Such goals should be SMART, where the goals are

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound for targeted achievements of

constant growth. For example, a nurse could improve communication skills to create a more

inclusive team. Our objective will be attainable by planning to shoot up staff engagement

evaluation scores by a certain percentage within a specified period, which is one to two months.

Enabling the goals to be attainable and related to both personal and institutional, such as

improving patient quality and team efficiency, makes nurse leaders set themselves up for the race
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(Orukwowu, 2022). Furthermore, having a clear time frame creates a feeling of urgency and

responsibility and drives consistent progress toward leadership formation.

Strategies for Skill Enhancement

Implementing leadership development strategies would require various strategies adapted

to the different learning styles and objectives. Nurse leaders can elect to participate in leadership

development courses, workshops and seminars offered for general erudition on a few leadership

theories and practical insights into leadership skills. Besides, finding a mentor in nurse managers

is gold as leadership skills are actualized in practice through support and guidance (Alsadaan et

al., 2023). Peer learning is carried out using collaborative activities, such as, a learning ambience

that is both shared and innovative within the nursing community. By working with online tools,

including webinars and professional groups, nurse leaders can follow the trending topics and

innovations in nursing leadership. In addition, pursuing further education or certification in

leadership or management brings advanced knowledge and credentials that a nurse leader can

use to lead complex healthcare settings competently.

Incorporation of Feedback Mechanisms

Regular feedback is the key to successful leadership training; it gives information on the

strengths and weaknesses to help a person develop as a leader. Nurse leaders can initiate

feedback forms, such as comments solicited from peers, subordinates, and superiors, creating an

open culture of accountability. Firstly, regular one-on-one sessions with the workforce team

bring forth free thoughts and engagements on their opinions, concerns, and suggestions for

leadership effectiveness. This gives a more comprehensive picture of your impact on your team

to nurse leaders. Evaluation by supervisors and colleagues in an official capacity will give

meaningful feedback concerning achievement and goals still to be attained.

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Lifelong Learning and Patient Advocacy

The commitment to continuous education and professional development at every stage is

relevant for nurse leaders to become competent and effective advocates for their patients and the

nursing profession. With healthcare undergoing changes and new issues facing it, nurse leaders

must be aware of developments in clinical practice, healthcare policy, and leadership theories to

provide better care and support to the teams. This dedication performs beyond obligatory training

requirements and encompasses a more proactive type of learning and growth.

Integration of democratic leadership principles instilling the nurse in patient advocacy

uplifts the commitment of the nurse leader to participate in patient-centered care and engage

people to be active in their personal health choices and decisions (Alsadaan et al., 2023). Nursing

leaders can promote open communication channels between patients, families, and healthcare

providers so that the patients will not only feel that they are heard but also treated with respect

and always informed of their issues. Besides increasing patient satisfaction and outcomes, this

teamwork approach establishes trust and rapport between the patient and the healthcare

providers, therefore setting a therapeutic partnership based on mutual trust and shared

responsibility.

Transforming Bedside Nursing

By adopting democratic leadership principles in bedside nursing, the organization can

create a culture characterized by teamwork, team member empowerment, and joint

accountability amongst the healthcare team. Nurse leaders may achieve this by involving the

nurses in decision-making and enabling them to use their knowledge, observations, and thought

processes for care delivery (Institute of Medicine, n.d.). Such an approach has the effect of

boosting the morale and productivity of frontline staff and leading to the development of a sense
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of responsibility and commitment to patient success. The nurse leaders can provide a platform

for the nurses by organizing groups or other periodic meetings to voice their thoughts, concerns,

or suggestions on making patient care smooth and effective.

Additionally, nurse leaders are at the forefront of advancing the need for resources,

support, and infrastructure to ensure the delivery of top-notch patient care at the front lines. This

is achieved through pushing for sufficient staffing, availability of crucial resources and tools,

career growth opportunities and training. Leading nurses can join interdisciplinary teams,

department managers, and hospital administrators to uncover deficient resources and conduct

subsequent actions that will actualize them (Institute of Medicine, n.d.). By promoting programs

that focus on patient security, contentment and results, nurse managers can achieve a huge

outcome of excellence and innovation in clinical nursing, influencing the quality of care offered

at healthcare facilities.

Importance of Democratic Leadership Theory

Democratic leadership approaches to promote communication and collaboration between

healthcare teams. In democratic leadership, collaborative styles are developed by facilitating the

participation of team members, which implies respect and consideration for different views.

Through this inclusive approach, employees’ relationships are improved (Qtait et al., 2023).

Openness and trust are created, and communication channels are facilitated to exchange ideas,

information, and feedback. Ultimately, this leads to goal achievement and establishes a

foundation for teamwork and organizational effectiveness.

In addition, democratic leadership facilitates quality control and accreditation by

encouraging structured processes and outcome-based approaches regarding performance

evaluation. Through the involvement of team members in formulating care protocols, quality
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improvement initiatives, and proof-based practice standards, the nurse leaders guarantee that the

expected standards of care are aligned with the evidence and patient needs. This participatory

approach helps to develop a sense of self-control and responsibility among healthcare teams,

which results in leading activities like optimization of patient care and experience toward desired

outcomes.

Future Goals as a Nurse Leader

If I was a nurse leader, my long-term career goals would aim for a broader portfolio that

will include strategic leadership positions to affect policies and shape culture and reforms of

healthcare provision. I would look forward to gaining executive leadership roles in positions

such as the Chief Nursing Officer or Nursing Director, where I can apply the concepts that I have

learned in democratic leadership and create an atmosphere that will promote collaboration,

innovation, and excellence (Ulyani et al., 2024). Through my activities to ensure team

excellence, promote shared decision-making, and put patients at the center of care, I would strive

to bring forward a wave of nurse leaders and to move along the nursing practice on a much larger

scale.

Democratic leadership would be the foundation of my plan of action, and I would use it

to guide my actions and decisions when tackling complex healthcare leadership issues. I would

achieve this by incorporating the concepts of equity, transparency, and majority rule to create

platforms for everyone to have a voice, whether through using their own words or being a

representative of others to improve situations.

Facilitating advocacy in my upcoming leadership enterprises is the key to seeing the

vision of a nursing leader as an agent of social change and health equity. My first and foremost

concern is to take up the cause of rights and methods that give prime importance to patient
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safety, equity in the health trade, and the overall welfare of both patients and the healthcare

workforce (Qtait et al., 2023). I will support initiatives that prioritize the needs of vulnerable

populations, amplify the voices of vulnerable groups, and tackle policies operating on the

premise that top-quality healthcare must be accessible to everyone equally.

Conclusion

Developing the skills of the democratic leader in nursing is critical. The meaning of the

nurse leader role and how democratic leadership fits it, along with approaches for growth,

lifelong learning, and patient support. An essential role of the leader in the nursing field is

establishing supportive interaction, which manifests through better communication,

collaboration, and comprehension of the quality of care. Democratic leadership deserves

recognition and credit for its ability to initiate meaningful, positive changes in healthcare

institutions. My aspirations of lifelong learning, patient advocacy, and democratic leadership in

nursing remain. I will grow as a nurse and eventually a leader and help advance health care for

patient outcomes and the nursing profession.

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References

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