Free Nursing Leadership Essay Sample
1. What Leadership Style(S) Does the Preceptor Exhibit?
Brenda, the manager of the Elk's rehab wound and hyperbaric center, has a transformational leadership style, which places more emphasis on change and visionary leadership with the main objective of improving individual and organizational performance. Transformational leadership is participative, implying that staff members are given an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills using joint decision-making and shared leadership. In addition, staff members take part in the problem-solving process, whereby they become their own leaders. This is of ultimate significance in the nursing environment because rational decisions have to be made in a timely manner, without the possibility of raising mixed reactions.
Brenda is a charismatic, inspiring, motivating and intellectually stimulating person. Due to these traits of effective leaders Brenda is able to attain persuasion from staff members since she appeals to them and inspires them to achieve a common goal. Brenda leads by example, and has a clear vision on things to make sure that the goals and mission of the organization are met. She also reflects a positive attitude on her staff in order to inspire them achieve the goals of the organization. She is an effective leader since she shares the vision of the organization; she increases self esteem in others and makes them feel valued. This leadership style results in increased loyalty, commitment, job satisfaction, increased morale and performance of staff members under her.
2. How Effective Is the Preceptor in Managing Oneself?
Self-management requires high levels of trustworthiness, self-awareness, and accountability. In light of this view, the preceptor is trustworthy, honest, and can be relied upon to perform her roles and responsibilities as a leader. In addition, the preceptor is flexible since she is able to adapt to the changing needs of her staff members and the organizational context. In addition, Brenda is self-confident, implying that she trusts her abilities to complete tasks and rarely uses her positional rank to ensure that all duties are done well. As the leader, Brenda is accountable for the outcomes of her actions by ensuring self-interest motives do not affect her leadership roles, responsibilities and outcomes.
3. How Effectively Do I Manage Myself in these Same Areas?
Time management and flexibility are core aspects of an effective leader in ensuring that the right tasks are accomplished in an efficient and timely manner. In addition, effective conflict resolution and management skills are appropriate in self-management; this is because they help to mitigate serious consequences if conflicts are not resolved appropriately and timely. Therefore, there is the need to improve time management and self-management in order to become an effective leader.
4. How Effective Is the Preceptor in Relating To Others?
Successful leadership requires establishing effective interpersonal relationships between the leader and followers; this is achieved using collaboration, conflict management, teamwork, and facilitating change. In light of this view, it is apparent that the preceptor has difficulties when it comes to handling conflicts and prefers to avoid them at all costs. Brenda is very collaborative and has good communication skills. She has managed to establish good interpersonal relationship with her staff members. In relation to teamwork, the preceptor has managed to instill the culture of teamwork among the staff members. For instance, she can fill in for a missing staff member if one is not able to come to work. Initiating and managing change is usually challenging for most leaders, this is complicated by the fact that the organization is new; implying that change resistance is bound to be high. However, her visionary leadership has ensured that staff members are receptive and positive towards the change.
5. How Effectively Do I Relate To Others in these Same Areas?
I have difficulties with confrontation, which transforms to difficulties in conflict management and resolution. I have effective interpersonal relationship and good communication skills. I believe that I can collaborate with other people due to teamwork. In addition, I hold the view that I can facilitate and manage the change effectively to ensure that the organizational goals and objectives are met.
6. What Works Well/Does Not Work Well in the Organization of Delivery of Care in this Unit?
During the delivery of health care doctors cannot agree on an issue, which imposes significant constraints on the smooth running of operations in the organization. Disagreements among staff members impose negative impacts on teamwork at the organizational level, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of the care delivery. This does not work well. However, what does work well in the organization of delivery of care in this unit is the fact that staff members cannot jump the chain of command to achieve their personal interests. Such interests are avoided at all costs while ensuring that patient care is prioritized.
7. What Suggestions Can Be Made for Improvement?
The suggestion for improvement includes continuous reinforcement of conflict resolution and management skills and immediate handling of conflicts when they arise. Effective conflict resolution and management are needed to promote teamwork and collaboration among staff members, which in turn ensure that operations at the organization run smoothly. Additionally, it is recommended that communication skills are to be improved to guarantee an interpersonal relationship between the preceptor and staff members.
8. How Effectively Do Team Members Communicate with Each Other on this Unit?
Effective communication is needed to ensure team cohesiveness and collaborative working towards the achievement of organizational goals and objectives. Under this unit, there is more emphasis on participative decision-making. As a result, staff members sit down at a table and engage in rigorous brainstorming to come up with a rational decision. Participative decision-making makes everyone feel like he/she is a part of the solution. In addition, it helps in improving individual leadership skills since staff members do not rely on the decisions imposed by the leader of the unit.
9. What Barriers To Communication Can Be Identified within this Unit/Organization?
The source of information is of ultimate significance within this unit and the larger organization. As a result, members have to ascertain the source of information before they can act in accordance with the information. This is a significant barrier to communication when information is delivered by someone else apart from the source; people perceive such information with uncertainties.
10. What Quality Improvement Process Is Used By the Organization?
Quality improvement in the organization is achieved by ensuring competency at the leadership and managerial level. Competence implies that leaders and managers are conversant with issues surrounding quality care delivery. For instance, the person in charge of the organization is an attorney and a Registered Nurse (RN). The preceptor received RN a year ago and has proved to be extremely effective in the job. The unit nurses are also involved in the quality improvement process by conducting weekly meetings.
11. What Role Does the Nurse Play in Handling Customer Complaints and Risk Management?
Effective patient care is emphasized in the organization; this is a strategy aimed at minimizing customer complaints and risks. The organization also places emphasis on patient’s satisfaction with care delivery. In acute situations, the nurse usually intervenes to ensure quality care delivery. In addition, the nurse handles customer complaints by investigating the cause of complains and adopting measures to ensure that such complaints do not occur again.
12. How Does the Manager Deal with Personnel Problems?
It is vital for staff members to know that personnel problems should not interfere with the achievement of the organizational goals and duties. Under transformational leadership, the manager deals with personnel problems by working with staff members with the main objective of eliminating the problems. Cases such as absenteeism, chemical dependency, and unproductive employees can be dealt with and reversed through guidance. Serious cases such as clinical incompetence pose the need to terminate the staff member because it poses a risk on the quality of care delivery.
Mentoring and supporting nurses involve listening to their problems and offering support when necessary.
13. Based on Observations and Analysis During this Course, What Do I Identify as My Leadership Strengths and Areas for Improvement?
My leadership strengths include understanding, supporting, initiating, and managing change, delegating, and asserting responsibilities, and laying out expectations. Leadership weaknesses include conflict avoidance and administering discipline.