Essentials of Nursing Leadership

Nursing is a difficult, high-stakes job. Nurses work daily to ensure that patients are properly cared for and to meet their immediate needs. While most nurses work under the direct authority of a doctor, they commonly look to other nurses for leadership when they have difficulty fulfilling their job. Effectively leading nurses requires a specific set of skills. Individuals in possession of these skills are more able to act authoritatively and command respect from their colleagues.

Respect

• Strong nursing leaders are not necessarily individuals to whom authority is delegated, but more commonly nurses who are highly respected by their peers reports Lanette L. Anderson, a nurse educator who has worked in the field for over 30 years. To be effective in a leadership role, a nurse must be well-respected by her peers.

Proficiency

• Nursing leaders should have excellent proficiency. To be deemed proficient, a nurse should be knowledge about drugs, treatments and patient care standards. This proficiency makes it possible for the nurse to not just follow an order, but also understand the reasons behind the order. These leaders are often turned to by lesser experienced nurses when they need assistance. They should be able to use their abilities and knowledge to respond quickly to problems brought to them by other nurses. If nursing leaders lack proficiency, they will not be a trusted resource to their peers and underlings will not turn to them for guidance.

Efficacy

• Efficacy is an individuals belief in their ability to effect change. A nurse that demonstrates efficacy clearly coveys a belief in her own skills. Efficacy, which is akin to confidence, is highly desirable in a nursing leader. Individuals who work under this leader will see the individual's sense of efficacy and feel that they, like the leader, are powerful and able to accomplish tasks and get things done.

Organization

• Detailed record keeping and organization are necessary to success within the field of nursing. In the absence of organization, mistakes can easily be made, and lives can be endangered. Nurse leaders should be an organizational role model for their peers. Their record keeping and cleanliness skills should be impeccable and worthy of emulation.

Communication Skills

• Nursing leaders should be adept communicators. Not only should they be able to communicate well with their colleagues, but they should also be skilled in communicating with patients. If a nursing leader is not a skilled communicator, she can not effectively convey her thoughts and ideas to her peers, and she will likely be unable to communicate effectively with individuals left under her care.

Teamwork Promotion

• Nurses should work together as a team to ensure quality patient care. Nursing leaders should promote the development of teamwork within the workplace. Nursing leaders should encourage cooperative work and celebrate team efforts to encourage others to continue to work as a group to achieve success.