Clinical Leadership - Outline Example

Clinical Leadership CLINICAL LEADERSHIP I. Introduction Clinical leaders possess clinical expertise in specific areas of practice,using their interpersonal skills to enhance the delivery of quality care to patients by health care staff (Rocchiccioli & Tilbury, 2012: p42). Clinical leadership involves creation of an environment that empowers healthcare staff and provides a vision for the future. It requires leadership skills aimed at empowerment, team building, conflict resolution, political leadership, and change facilitation.

In order to accomplish this, transformational leadership style is essential. They should also be approachable and effective communicators, while also motivating other nurses and enabling teamwork. II. Description of Practical SituationHeart problems are usually chronic in nature and difficult to manage, which makes it one of the biggest reason for hospital admissions involving patients above the age of sixty five years (Rocchiccioli & Tilbury, 2012: p21). As a clinical leader, it is important to develop new ways that help the cardiac patients manage their ailments through management of teamwork and motivating healthcare staff to care for the patients.

As a nursing leader in this area of practice, it is one’s responsibility to manage nursing administration. Inadequate manpower due to the round-the-clock nature of cardiac patient care results in lack of adequate leave for the nurses, which results in conflict and lack of motivation. In cases where the cardiac department is preparing for change involving the use of bedside reporting, it is important to consider decision making skills, interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution as a leader (Rocchiccioli & Tilbury, 2012: p22). III. Reflectiona.

Political AwarenessIt is important to be politically aware, especially since political factors influence the environment in which the clinical leader will operate in making the decision (Jasper & Jumaa, 2012: p32). In this case, being aware of legislation concerning annual leave is important. Political awareness enhances the ability to influence multi-level policy making, as well as enabling the leader to explain to the staff about the changes they are witnessing. b. Teamwork and MotivationIn clinical practice areas that require as much effort as cardiac care, it is important to ensure that the staff is motivated to provide quality care.

Motivation will enable the team members to enjoy their challenges, initiate optimism, and passionately go about their work (Jasper & Jumaa, 2012: p33). Motivating the entire staff to work as a team is a great challenge.c. Transformational leadershipTransformational leadership involves the motivation and inspiration of nurses in the cardiac department. Clinical leadership will benefit from transformational leadership, especially in the implementation of practices that are evidence-based (Jasper & Jumaa, 2012: p33).d. Facilitating change and decision makingTo implement changes in the cardiac department, it will be necessary as a clinical leader to sell the need for change to the staff, as well as to resolve any uncertainties held by the staff by enhancing empowerment of the staff and improving communication effectiveness.

In addition, it is crucial to explain how the staff will be affected by the changes and anchor the change into their culture (Jasper & Jumaa, 2012: p35).e. Managing people and conflictImplementing bedside shift reporting in the cardiac department will result in different opinions by the staff. Conflict sources include disagreements on how to implement the changes, stress, tension about work security, and personal interests, while outcomes involve low morale and polarization (Jasper & Jumaa, 2012: p36). IV. Proposed ActionAs a clinical leader, it will be important to impart on the staff the importance of teamwork in reaching a common goal, as well as exercising collaboration to assess, evaluate, and plan healthcare for cardiac patients (Lambert & Lambert, 2013: p51).

In order to build this teamwork culture, it will be crucial to clarify the goals of the changes and teamwork and ensure that this is accepted by the staff. Also, interpersonal conflict will have to be settled through compromise and negotiation.V. Conclusion In solving the issue of low morale and inter-personal conflict due to the implementation of bedside shift reporting in the cardiac development, clinical leadership will require wise conflict management, empowerment, team building, political awareness, and change facilitation.

ReferencesJasper, M., & Jumaa, M. (2012). Effective healthcare leadership. Oxford, UK, Blackwell Pub. Lambert, V. A., & Lambert, C. E. (2013). Clinical leadership. Gaithersburg, Md, Aspen Systems. Rocchiccioli, J., & Tilbury, M. S. (2012). Clinical leadership in nursing. Philadelphia, Saunders.