Leadership Styles in Nursing
Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing
Tami Olson
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR351: Transitions in Professional Nursing
Summer B Session 2011
Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing
Introduction
“Managers with leadership styles that seek and value contributions from staff, promote a climate in which information is shared effectively, promote decision making at the staff nurse level, exert position power, and influence coordination of work to provide a milieu that maintains a stable cadre of nurses”, (Boyle, Bott, Hansen, Woods & Taunton, 2009). This statement describes the large impact a leadership style can make on the work environment, and the morale of the team. In nursing history, several theories and leadership styles have been explored. This paper will discuss: the importance of leadership in nursing, the authoritarian and democratic leadership styles, how they can be implemented in practice, and how they can either help or hinder professional nursing practice.
Review of Professional Nursing Literature The importance of leadership in nursing is continuing to present itself time and again, especially as technology improves, and healthcare changes and evolves. What is unique about leadership in nursing is that nurses as leaders have the ability to impact and improve practice (Curtis, De Vries & Sheerin, 2011). In addition to leadership being an important component to the nurse’s role, leadership style also has been found to have a significant impact on nurse’s objective to remain on particular unit (Boyle, Bott, Hansen, Woods & Taunton, 2009). The paper next describes two leadership styles that may be implemented in practice.
The authoritarian leadership style has been compared with a dictatorship, meaning that one person has the authority over the employees. This type of leader is often the one in charge of making the plans for the whole group or unit, and the employees or subordinates are expected to carry out the plan according
Tami Olson
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR351: Transitions in Professional Nursing
Summer B Session 2011
Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing
Introduction
“Managers with leadership styles that seek and value contributions from staff, promote a climate in which information is shared effectively, promote decision making at the staff nurse level, exert position power, and influence coordination of work to provide a milieu that maintains a stable cadre of nurses”, (Boyle, Bott, Hansen, Woods & Taunton, 2009). This statement describes the large impact a leadership style can make on the work environment, and the morale of the team. In nursing history, several theories and leadership styles have been explored. This paper will discuss: the importance of leadership in nursing, the authoritarian and democratic leadership styles, how they can be implemented in practice, and how they can either help or hinder professional nursing practice.
Review of Professional Nursing Literature The importance of leadership in nursing is continuing to present itself time and again, especially as technology improves, and healthcare changes and evolves. What is unique about leadership in nursing is that nurses as leaders have the ability to impact and improve practice (Curtis, De Vries & Sheerin, 2011). In addition to leadership being an important component to the nurse’s role, leadership style also has been found to have a significant impact on nurse’s objective to remain on particular unit (Boyle, Bott, Hansen, Woods & Taunton, 2009). The paper next describes two leadership styles that may be implemented in practice.
The authoritarian leadership style has been compared with a dictatorship, meaning that one person has the authority over the employees. This type of leader is often the one in charge of making the plans for the whole group or unit, and the employees or subordinates are expected to carry out the plan according
References: Boyle, D. K., Bott, M. J., Hansen, H. E., Woods, C. Q., & Taunton, R. L. (2009). Manager 's leadership and critical care nurses intent to stay. American Journal of Critical Care, 8(6), Retrieved from http://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/content/8/6/361 Curtis, E. A., De Vries, J., & Sheerin, F. K. (2011). Developing leadership in nursing. British Journal of Nursing, 20(5), Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.devry.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&hid=122&sid=0baa0f04-5985-465c-883c-95c67616a3da%40sessionmgr104 VESTERINEN, S., ISOLA, A., & PAASIVAARA, L. (2009). Leadership styles of finnish nurse managers and factors influencing it. Journal of Nursing Management, 17, Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.devry.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=31e3cba7-fede-4c73-8b7b-a41613039bd2%40sessionmgr12&vid=6&hid=21