Not all heroes wear capes; some wear scrubs! Imagine yourself in a hospital where there is chaos, phones ringing, alarms beeping, and patients in need. Effective leadership keeps healthcare moving, and during this chaos, a nurse steps in and takes the lead. Direct the team, reassure the worried family, and make sure to provide the best care to the patient. Nurses who lead with confidence bring out the best in every shift. In this blog, we will discuss the leadership theories in nursing that every nurse must know.
What is leadership theory in nursing?
Leadership in nursing means leading and guiding the team and creating a healthy and safe environment for the patients and staff. The leadership theories in nursing guide nurses on how to manage teams, make decisions, communicate, resolve conflicts, and foster a positive work environment. The following are the reasons why leadership theory matters:
- Good leadership improves patient outcomes.
- Support team collaboration and communication.
- These leadership theories in nursing encourage professional growth.
- Leadership theories in nursing also help nurses navigate challenges.
What are the leadership theories in nursing?
Leadership theory in nursing is a model that helps nurses to take the lead to guide, motivate, and influence others in healthcare settings. These leadership theories in nursing are as follows:
Types of leadership in nursing
- Transformational leadership theory in nursing
- Transactional leadership in nursing
- Servant leadership in nursing
- Democratic leadership in nursing
- Autocratic leadership in nursing
- Situational leadership in nursing
Transformational leadership in nursing
A transformational leader helps nurses to see the value and purpose behind their work. For example, if one of the nurses feels burned out due to the workload, the transformational leader helps the nurse to see how their work is making a positive impact on their life.
- They encourage innovation.
- This type of leadership builds trust, communication, and respect.
- Increased job satisfaction among nurses.
Transactional leadership in nursing
This type of leadership is based on clear rules, rewards, and punishments. For example, it clearly says what needs to be done and how it should be done, and what will happen if it isn’t or is done. The positive outcomes of this type of leadership include consistent performance, clear expectations, and efficient task management.
Situational leadership in nursing
As the name indicates, this type of nursing leadership is based on situation and team needs. For example, if a new grad nurse starts working in the hospital, the nurse uses directive style leadership, which means giving direct instructions and strict guidance to help the new grad nurse build confidence. With time, when the new grad nurse becomes more independent, the leadership style changes to more of a coaching style in which the nurse will ask the new grad nurse about their opinion instead of giving strict orders.
Servant leadership in nursing
In this type of leadership, the nurse puts the needs of the patients and the staff first. For example, nurses walk down the unit asking other nurses how they can help. In this type of leadership, the nurse serves their team and helps the staff feel valued. The nurse leader listens to their staff’s concerns and takes action, advocates for their team, and helps them in the best possible way. The main goal of this type of leadership is to make the team feel valued and heard.
Democratic leadership in nursing
In this type of leadership in nursing, the nurses collaborate with other healthcare team members to make decisions. In this type of leadership, the nurses encourage open communication. For example, the nurse leader invites all nurses to discuss their schedules, changes to care protocols, and other relevant topics. The goal of this type of leadership is to foster a strong team culture built on trust and mutual respect.
Autocratic leadership in nursing
In this type of nursing leadership, the lead nurse makes decisions and expects the team to follow direct orders. For example, in code blue, when the patient’s heart stops beating, the lead nurse gives clear, direct instructions to the team because every second counts and there is no time for discussions.
Conclusion
Leadership in nursing is about inspiring and making sure of the best outcomes for both patients and team members. There are different types of leadership theories in nursing, such as transactional leadership, situational leadership, etc. Understanding these leadership theories is important for nurses because with these theories, nurses cannot only become effective leaders, but they can also support their team, make them feel valued, and improve patient care.
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