A Charge Nurse: A Case Study

Throughout history, there have always been leaders and followers. Whether the leaders were for the greater good or the downfall of mankind, leaders have always stood out from crowds and have inspired others to help attain their goals. According to "Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing", a leader are members of our society who are also known as the "masters of change". They are the risk takers we see who challenge status quos and those who are willing to take risks for the chance to gain something greater in life. These leaders are known to have special characteristics that get work done through the help of others who are willing to aid them in reaching their goals. A leader consists of traits that: envision the future, use motivation
as a key driver to the followers, stand at the forefront to lead the way, help inspire others to accomplish goals and to gain confidence in their roles. Leaders are important members of the healthcare team and have key roles in helping members adapt to the ever changing situations they face in the hospital setting.
The role of a leader comes from a member of the staff who holds a position of respect such as a charge nurse, a manager of a unit, or a case manager. (Marquis & Huston, 2011)

A charge nurse is one of the many leaders in the health care setting. They hold qualities that few possess such as being true to themselves and being able to act appropriately in different situations. During my clinical rotation, I was able to experience a charge nurses role during their shifts. Maria Del Reyes, a charge nurse on the CCU unit at Hoag Hospital in the city of New Port. Maria has been an RN for 15 years and has been a charge nurse for over 10 years. Seeing her day to day role as a charge nurse on her unit was definitely an experience that I wouldn’t forget. It was a great moment of self reflection for me as I saw what a nurse leaders job entitles. Maria's leadership style resembles a democratic leader. "Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing" defines a democratic leader as one who not only promotes autonomy, but
promotes the growth in the individuals (Marquis & Huston, 2011). She speaks with her staff in a friendly yet authoritative manner. She involves the team and respects their opinions and helps formulate solutions that can both satisfy the healthcare team and help produce the best plan of care for the patients. Not only does she establish a trusting relationship, members of the healthcare team also are very fond of her and it can be observed clearly from a third person perspective. During moments of conflicts between health care members, she allows the members involved to try and resolve the situation on their own and only intervenes when necessary. Doing this helps promote the individuals' responsibilities and helps the members in conflict learn the appropriate ways to communicate. Not only is Maria involved in the professional aspect of the healthcare members lives, but also in their personal lives. She gets involved with the members of her staff on a personal level, which promotes feelings of affection and compassion. While observing her, I noticed just how much she was involved in keeping her staff productive. There was a constant feeling of motivation that she spread to her staff by complimenting her staff on the great job performance. She was constantly on the move, pacing the hallways of the unit checking up on her staff while also assessing each situation and the interventions necessary to increase productivity. Her willingness to assist and guide her staff whenever the situation arises was something that I believe was the reason why she was such a great leader.

With the responsibilities that a charge nurse job description entitles, the nursing process is a crucial tool that helps guide leaders. Maria utilizes the nursing process efficiently and performs these steps throughout her shift. From the beginning till the end of her shift, Maria was observed planning, such as staffing. She was observed checking her calendar in case there are meetings that she needs to attend. She organizes the tasks at hand, and determines the right course of action for each situation. In regards to staffing, she schedules shifts and rooms according to the level of care needed for each individual patient. She directs efficiently by delegating tasks when needed, which helps utilize resources at the full potential. She collaborates with other health care members regarding new admissions and discharges. Maria provides great leadership qualities by performing these steps, which can be evaluated by observing if the goals have been met or not. Not only does she ensure that her staffs' productivity is at a steady pace, but also reviews the satisfaction rates of each patient and intervenes when a patient's quality of care can be improved.

After observing Maria's leadership performance, the amount of work a leader is required to complete does seem a bit stressful.
With the many different leadership styles that an individual can incorporate in their roles, Maria chose the style that best fits her personality and unit. Being aware of her unit and potential complications, she has been able to successfully increase the productivity of her unit, while also forming a great relationship with her staff. Even though there may be some members of her staff who require less supervision than others, she has always found an area of improvement for each member on her team to work on. Doing so not only improves every staff members' performance, but also increases the quality of care to the patients in the unit. All the staff members show a great amount of respect for her, which plays a part in their welcoming demeanor whenever she has an opportunity to share her
knowledge.

This experience has greatly impacted me in a positive way. It has helped me gain the insight of the many things that a great leader needs to perform in order to create a positive working environment. A leader is not just an individual who only sticks to their own values and beliefs, but is an individual who stresses on the importance of teamwork and collaboration. With leaders holding a position of respect, the road to becoming a leader is not an easy task. It may take months to years in order for an individual to become a proper leader, but the accomplishments that can be attained would be priceless.