Leadership Style as a Registered Nurse - Essay Example

Amongst the roles available to a nurse are those in research, teaching, and specialized activities specific to a particular area of health services including geriatrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, and many more. A Registered Nurse (RM) who desires to be a part of this growing profession has the opportunity to explore his / her skills in several directions.

An important part of the avenues opened up to an RM is the opportunities for leading others; be they team members, patients, or assistants. Even by the simplest definition of nursing, where the nurse is seen as not much more than a caregiver dependent on other professionals to chart out the actual treatment plan; the nurse has been in a leadership position when interacting with patients and supervising their recovery. With the new areas of professional development and personal growth that have opened up to a nurse, the scope for leadership responsibilities has also grown. The nurse may be required to take up a position of leadership among peers when there is a situation to be dealt with or immediate action to be taken. The position of a leader is also implied in a one–to–one caregiving relationship; where the nurse actively takes decisions and implements treatment plans for a patient under his / her care. A nurse would be required to take decisions and motivate people when responding to a crisis like victims of a natural or social tragedy. An experienced nurse would also be required to take new graduates under his / her wing as assistants and help them develop their passion for caregiving through example and advice.
Given all these situations where a leadership role may fall upon a nurse, an LPN in training to become an RN would benefit from introspection that leads to a better understanding of one’s leadership style.

Personally, my strengths have always been in handling situations with a fair and firm hand; and maintaining consistency in the quality of care given to patients. Taking decisions in a pinch moment, and shouldering the responsibility for the same has always come naturally, and experience has honed this trait so that I find that upholding the principles of justice and equality has become a part of the caregiving experience. I have not found it in me to be experimental when there are lives at risk, but I believe that each person needs to evaluate their roles and commitments with as little outside interference as possible.

Given this background, it would be possible to identify a pre-dominant streak of the Transactional style of leadership that is tempered with some aspects of transactional leadership. As a mostly Transactional leader, the preference is to follow rules and expect others to do the same. Often a nurse is required to take decisions on the fly about a patient’s treatment; the basis of which are the rules set down for such situations. Not following rules could cost a patient his / her life. It also becomes necessary that a nurse keeps junior staff motivated and ready to work by praising the effort taken; while ensuring that slacking is strongly discouraged. I believe that keeping rewards contingent on behavior helps in motivating efficiency and promptness; though I do find that it is still necessary to monitor the situation regularly.
On the other hand, I believe that trainees should be allowed to develop an understanding of the medical procedures they are a part of and that analysis helps them learn faster and retain better.

Thus, in conclusion, my leadership style is mostly transactional regarding the treatment of patients and the input of team members; but there are elements of a Transformational style in the context of learning and understanding the methods and value of the caring industry. Read More