What are Leadership Styles in Nursing?
The best nurse leaders can recognize that both patients and nursing personnel derive satisfaction from the nursing unit functioning as a cohesive team. Furthermore, realizing that the success of this unit greatly depends on the solidness of their nursing leadership should encourage nursing leaders to comprehend the diverse forms of leadership styles in nursing administration. Nursing leadership styles are highly dependent on the cultural norms prevailing in the country, as well as the organizational structure established by the nursing management. Different leadership styles in nursing may be applicable in different regions, as well as in different types of nursing units. It will help you get your point across even when sensitive situations are being discussed, such as bad news about someone’s health. A professional voice is a valuable asset when providing nursing care.
Nurses have a lot of responsibility to take on, and they need all the skills to make it happen. A nurse manager has an important job: motivating their team members while providing good patient care for patients in any situation that might arise. Nurses are often more comfortable with some nurse leadership styles than others; this is why understanding your leadership style can help you be better at what you do as a nurse leader.
The Best Leadership Styles in Nursing
Different people will have different opinions about nurse leadership styles in healthcare. Opinions on how they need to act when they are leading others. Nursing leadership styles can be broken down into four major categories: Transformational Leadership, Democratic Leadership, Autocratic Leadership, and Servant Leadership.
Transformational Leadership Style in Nursing.
Transformational leadership is a new nurse leadership style. This transformational leadership in nursing is not just about providing nurse leadership to a group. It’s also about motivating them to achieve greater goals and being more productive when providing patient healthcare. A successful nurse leader can tap into the employees’ intrinsic motivation by appealing directly at the level that matters most – leading each nursing staff. This is a better nursing management approach as opposed to focusing solely on structures or systems.
Democratic Leadership Style in Nursing
Democratic Leadership Style in Nursing has a purposeful positive intent, which helps to create an inclusive environment for nurses. This idea of creating inclusion and equality can be seen as one that promotes fairness among all employees in the nursing practice. Democratic leadership encourages individual input from those who are part of a group or team so everyone’s voice is heard equally during decision-making processes. A democratic leader also always practices laissez-faire leadership with his/her team.
Autocratic Leadership Style in Nursing
Autocratic leadership is a management style that’s often necessary for high-stakes situations. But does it make sense to use this leadership behavior with nurses, who are typically more compassionate and caring by nature? It might seem like an alienating technique at first glance, but proponents argue that an autocracy can be beneficial because it allows the autocratic leader to have control over every aspect of work-life; no one undermines an authoritarian leader or resists them.
Servant Leadership Style in Nursing
Servant leadership is a more holistic view of the world, and it should be embraced by the nursing profession. The health care providers are often put into stressful situations where they have to deal with difficult patients or families who make demands at all times. This greatly affects their work-life balance. A servant nursing leader wants what’s best for everybody involved; not just themselves. This nursing leadership style endears them to the nursing team. A servant leader will even help with some responsibilities so someone else can contribute better than expected. This transformational leadership style ensures a nurse can take care of himself as well as his coworkers because servant leadership requires selflessness at all times.
Conclusion
The reason why the nursing leadership should have their leadership skills evaluated is that they are a major part of the healthcare team. They must know how to lead and provide good patient care so that everyone’s needs, whether patient or co-worker/assistant, can be met. When nurses have an effective leader, who practices effective leadership there will be job satisfaction as they tackle the day’s challenges.
Nurses should be mindful and provide laissez-faire leadership whenever necessary. Nurses should be compassionate when communicating with patients and the patient’s families at all times. This will contribute to positive patient outcomes as the patients will learn to trust you and be comfortable around you.
