NURS 6053 LEADERSHIP THEORIES IN PRACTICE

Sarah, it sounds like your manager is well-respected and high-performing. I recently transferred jobs, and my new manager is much like yours. My old manager was not, which was one of the significant reasons for staff discontentment in the workplace. Our team often had a manager and two unit coordinators present during the day, and we were never offered a lunch break or help with patient care. In a staff meeting, a nurse asked if the department’s flow nurse (think of an assistant charge nurse) could help break nurses who were having a hectic day, and the manager said that was unrealistic. A style like your manager’s transformational leadership could improve the department if used more often. I appreciate your pointing out how transformational leadership may be ineffective in a crisis. It made me wonder if that is what my old manager was thinking because the staffing was critically low and patient volumes were critically high; however, transformational leadership continues to be the evidence-based practice in nursing (Broome & Marshall, 2021). Every person is different, and an emotionally intelligent manager will understand that nurses typically do not respond to the Theory X leadership style of expecting followers to do as they are told (Broome & Marshall, 2021). In a systematic review of the effect leadership style had on nurse retention and well-being, transformational leadership was the most recommended (Niinihuhta & Häggman-Laitila, 2022). Nurses should have leaders focused on “supportive, empowering, resonant, transformational, transactional, authentic, ethical and servant leadership styles” (Niinihuhta & Häggman-Laitila, 2022). Nurse leaders can improve patient outcomes by improving nurse retention and well-being (Niinihuhta & Häggman-Laitila, 2022). Nurses who are satisfied with their job ultimately provide better care, and burnout is a dangerous road to patient harm. The leadership skills you described will most likely improve your staff retention, mood, and patient outcomes. The leadership style of being on the floor with the bedside nurses is highly respected and is one of the primary reasons I came to my new job. Feeling supported by those you expect to lead you is crucial in any workplace.    

References  

Broome, M., & Marshall, E. S. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer