for NRS 415 Explain what it means to be self-aware and describe why emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership

Self-awareness is important for a leader to have because it gives individuals the capability to balance themselves in situations with high stress. Understanding one’s own self is the ability to look inward and understand the capabilities one has. Whitney, S. (2022) states to become a successful leader one must have great self-awareness.  A method of increasing self-awareness is mindful habits, keeping a journal, practicing meditation, self-reflection, recognizing emotions, redirecting negative thoughts, and having accountability (Whitney, 2022).

Emotional intelligence is important for leaders to have because it gives them the ability to self-reflect on their weaknesses and strengths in order to become an efficient support system for the staff and themselves (Butler, 2021).

With the increase of the emotional intelligence, it directly influences critical thinking and decision making while delivering high quality patient care (Butler, 2021). An example of being an effective leader is a manager giving the staff confidence they can perform their job to the highest ability by promoting teamwork, effectively communication in order to prevent falls in the workplace. An effective leader can help rally the staff to promote cohesiveness within the unit. The increase of beds on the unit has put added stress on the staff to help each other when the bed alarms sound. With the increase in beds, nurse shortage, nurses have to pick up the added workload placed on the assignment.

References

Butler, J. (2021). Emotional Intelligence in Nursing Leadership. Australian Nursing & Midwifery Journal, 27(5), 18–21.

Whitney, S. (2022). Nursing leadership and management: Leading and serving (Third Edition). Theories and concepts in leadership and management. URL: https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000587/epub/Chapter1.html#page_6