Every aspect of healthcare delivery, from quality control to reimbursement to elimination of inefficient and wasteful practices is continuously subject to change (Delmatoff and Lazarus, 2014). The changes occurring from time to time in patient care influence timely delivery of quality healthcare. Therefore, effective leadership traits on the part of nurse leaders are quite critical in the light of nurse practitioners encountering an uncertain healthcare environment. Secondly, each and every role in healthcare is crucial for patient recovery, and a nurse has to ensure that her patient receives the care from all single levels. In other words, a nurse leader is more often compelled to take the roles of her team mates as well toward providing comprehensive care to patients. Thirdly, self-awareness and empowerment is the key to motivate nurse leaders to continuously enjoy their role in spite of the adverse external environments. Transformational leadership, inspired by a vision and empowerment to motivate fellow team members, best explains a nurse leader (Smith, 2015). Thus, my vision of nurse leadership is: “A nurse leader is a change agent capable of relating to all levels to provide integrated care through self awareness.”
As a change agent, nurse leaders go with the flow, embrace changes and motivate others to follow their footsteps to provide improved healthcare to patients. Effective nurse leaders change and develop the workplaces to completely transform the quality of healthcare (Rivera, 2014). Being a change agent and introducing more quality improvement projects makes a nurse leader a role model to her followers. A transformational nurse leader always challenges existing practices towards introducing new effective processes and procedures for the benefit of their patients and family members.
Healthcare organizations are continuously challenged by the internal and external environments. For instance, union staff may go on a strike anytime. This may require the clinical staff to pitch in and take additional responsibilities so that patients and their dear ones always receive flawless care. More often, nurse leaders may feel breathless and exhausted by ensuring that their patients receive care at all levels, in case staff at some levels are missing. In other words, nurse leaders are efficient in multitasking.
Amid their hectic work pressure, nurse leaders always serve with an open heart and smiling face. Self awareness continues to inspire and energize them to provide unconditional service and love to their patients and family members. Transformational nurse leadership, inspired by active unreserved service, tends to improve the job satisfaction of team members (Bormann and Abrahamson, 2014). Enjoying perfect work life balance is possible since visionary nurse leaders are always driven by self-awareness. In other words, they initially empower their inner self with positive affirmations, thoughts and actions so as to enjoy the external physical work environment.
References
Bormann, L., & Abrahamson, K. (2014). Do Staff Nurse Perceptions of Nurse Leadership Behaviors Influence Staff Nurse Job Satisfaction? The Case of a Hospital Applying for Magnet® Designation. Journal Of Nursing Administration, 44(4), 219-225 7p. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000000053
Delmatoff, J., & Lazarus, I. R. (2014). The Most Effective Leadership Style for the New Landscape of Healthcare. Journal Of Healthcare Management,59(4), 245-249 5p.
Rivera, T. (2014). Leadership Profile :HealthAchieve 2013 Nursing Leadership Award Winner, Tiziana RiveraTiziana Rivera. Nursing Leadership (1910-622X), 27(1), 16-20 5p.
Smith, C. (2015). Exemplary leadership: How style and culture predict organizational outcomes. Nursing Management, 46(3), 47-51 5p. doi:10.1097/01.zNUMA.0000456659.17651.c0
