A Formal Nursing Role, Education, Responsibilities, & Leadership Traits, Styles & Qualities
Nurse Leadership Role
Nurses are increasingly taking leadership roles in the health care system. They lead and influence the team members they are in charge of in order to ensure that they perform effectively. This has seen nurse leaders making an important contribution to the improvement of the quality of care provided to patients. This essay discusses a formal role in which a nurse serves in a leadership position. It outlines the responsibilities of that role, and the required educational preparation. The essay also explains various leadership styles, traits and qualities needed for one to succeed in the role, and the reason as to why these requirements are important.
A Formal Role Where a Nurse is in a Position of Leadership
An example of nursing leadership position with a formal role is that of a head nurse. Head nurses are registered nurses who are entrusted with administrative work. They play an important role in leading groups or teams of nurses, and overseeing the care of patients (Taylor & Webster-Henderson, 2017). Head nurses report directly to the top management of healthcare facilities. As a result, they serve as intermediaries between nurses, and doctors, other healthcare professionals, and the administration (Taylor & Webster-Henderson, 2017). Apart from performing the administrative duties, head nurses also carry out general nurse functions (McBride, 2020). Just like other nurses, these professionals are involved in the provision of care to patients.
Essential Responsibilities of the Role and Educational Preparation Required
Head nurses have various important responsibilities in their leadership roles. To begin with, they have a duty to coordinate their team members in the best way possible in order to ensure that they perform effectively in the delivery of care services (Taylor & Webster-Henderson, 2017; McBride, 2020). They give them assignments, supervise them, and mentor them. Head nurses monitor patient care activities (Taylor & Webster-Henderson, 2017). They maintain medical records, and ensure that the right procedures of care are followed. They encourage the nurses under their leadership to adhere to all the set standards and policies that guide nursing practice (ANA, 2018). Head nurses play an important role in resolving conflicts involving nurses. This leads to creation of cohesive nursing teams dedicated to the delivery of quality healthcare services for better patient outcomes (ANA, 2018; McBride, 2020). Head nurses are also often involved in resolving various patient issues. This leads to patient satisfaction.
For one to become a head nurse, he or she must a licensed registered nurse who has at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). However, most health care facilities require nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The master’s degree equips nurse trainees with better communication, administrative, and critical thinking skills (National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine, 2021). These are important skills required for the position of a head nurse.
Leadership Traits, Styles, and Qualities Required to be Successful in the Role, and Why
There are certain leadership traits, qualities, and styles one requires in order to succeed in the head nurse role. To start with, a head nurse must be dependable (LTQ, n.d). He or she should demonstrate that team members can rely on him or her for guidance and direction. A head nurse should be emotionally intelligent (Emerald Works Limited, 2021 a). This will enable him or her to effectively manage difficult situations. An effective head nurse must be sensitive (LTQ, n.d). This ability will enable the nurse leader to understand and address the needs of his or her followers.
A head nurse should possess good interpersonal and communication skills (Leadership Skills Test, n.d). Such skills will enable him or her to collaborate well with other team members. A good head nurse must have good analytical skills (Leadership Skills Test, n.d). Such skills will help the leader to ensure that various emergencies are handled well. A head nurse is expected to have good conflict resolution skills (Middleton, n.d.). These skills will be helpful to him or her in resolving the conflicts of the followers. A head nurse is supposed to have good mentorship skills (Leadership Skills Test, n.d; Middleton, n.d.). This will enable him or her to empower the followers for them to understand their roles well in the provision of care services.
An effective head nurse should be guided by humanistic management philosophy. This philosophy enables nurse leaders to consider their followers or team members as people first before treating them as nurses (Emerald Works Limited, 2021 b). The approach can help to boost the morale of staff members for them to perform better. A head nurse needs to embrace impartial advocacy. This will enable the leader to effectively advocate for the rights of both nurses and patients (Emerald Works Limited, 2021 b). Additionally, a head nurse should apply transformational leadership style in his or her work. This kind of leadership will enable him or her to motivate and inspire team members in order to bring the desired change (Cherry, K. (2020). This is important not only to the nursing industry, but also to the general health care system.
References:
American Nurses Association (ANA). (2018). ANA Leadership: Competency Model. American Nurses Association (ANA). Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/~4a0a2e/globalassets/docs/ce/177626-ana-leadership-booklet-new-final.pdf
Cherry, K. (2020). Transformational Leadership. Verywellmind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-transformational-leadership-2795313
Emerald Works Limited. (2021 a). How Emotionally Intelligent Are You? Mind Tools. Retrieved from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/ei-quiz.htm
Emerald Works Limited. (2021 b). What’s Your Leadership Style. MindTools. Retrieved from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/leadership-style-quiz.htm
Leadership Skills Test. (n.d.).Leadership Skills Test. Pyschtests. Restrieved from https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/2152
Leadership Trait Questionnaire. (LTQ) (n.d.). “Leadership Trait Questionnaire (LTQ),” in Leadership Theory and Practice. Watson College of Education of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Retrieved from http://people.uncw.edu/nottinghamj/documents/slides6/Northouse6e%20Ch2%20Trait%20Survey.pdf
McBride, A. B. (2020). The Growth and Development of Nurse Leaders. New York, N.Y.: Springer Publishing Company, LLC.
Middleton, J. (n.d.). Leadership Skills for Nurses. Nursing Times. Retrieved from http://www.northriseuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Leadership-Skills-for-Nurses.pdf
National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine (2021). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/read/12956/chapter/2
Taylor, R., & Webster-Henderson, B. (2017). The Essentials of Nursing Leadership. Los Angeles : Sage.
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