NR 351 Week 5 Discussion

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-351: Transitions in Professional Nursing

Prof. Name:

Date

Week 5: Leadership to Improve Quality in Diverse Situations

Leadership in nursing is a cornerstone of improving quality in diverse healthcare settings. Leaders are characterized by their ability to influence and inspire others while demonstrating courage in taking risks (Hood, 2018, p. 443). In contrast, managers are typically assigned their roles and focus on maintaining smooth workflows and efficient resource utilization (Hood, 2018, p. 443). Although leadership and management are often used interchangeably, these roles are distinct. As Hood (2018, p. 443) notes, the overlap of concepts creates confusion in literature. However, not all nurse managers are effective leaders, and the reverse is also true. Traditional managers perform specific functions and responsibilities, guided by their organizational titles (Zydziunaite, 2012). I believe every nurse possesses leadership potential, and the traditional managerial role is not as critical in modern healthcare settings.

Leadership, as defined, involves influencing others to achieve shared goals. This description aligns seamlessly with the nursing profession, where collaboration with patients and healthcare teams ensures safety and care. Effective leadership in nursing requires empowerment, which must originate within nurse leaders and managers themselves. Empowered managers strive to support their staff by providing resources and fostering a sense of value among employees (Hood, 2018, p. 458). Working night shifts, I rarely encounter management on my unit. While our director is approachable, she often makes promises that remain unfulfilled, especially concerning staffing issues. This persistent lack of responsiveness creates a demoralizing environment, with many nurses feeling insignificant and replaceable. Despite this, our night shift team compensates through teamwork, although fundamental staffing issues remain unresolved.

As nurse leaders, it is our responsibility to advocate for change and take initiative rather than waiting for management to act. Addressing unsafe working environments requires proactive measures, such as documenting instances of understaffing or excessive admissions and communicating these concerns directly to management. Additionally, engaging in leadership roles at the unit level can bring meaningful change. Participating in committees, such as welcoming, safety, improvement boards, or equipment boards, empowers nurses to address systemic issues. As Zydziunaite (2012) highlights, nursing leadership is not confined to administrative roles but can flourish at the bedside.

Table: Leadership and Management in Nursing

Aspect	Leadership	Management
Definition	The process of influencing others to achieve shared goals.	Focuses on ensuring workflow efficiency and resource use.
Characteristics	Inspires and empowers; takes risks; fosters collaboration.	Assigned role; specific functions and responsibilities.
Application	Can emerge at all levels, including bedside roles.	Organizationally defined roles and titles.

References

Hood, L. J. (2018). Leddy & Pepper’s conceptual bases of professional nursing (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.