Nursing Leadership Research Paper

Leadership Paper
Being a leader is a real skill that requires time, commitment, thought and dedication. According to Pearson (2015), “Leaders are people with the ability to rule, guide, or inspire others to think or act as they recommend” (p. 2489). At times it may seem very overwhelming and situations may feel as if they are unsolvable and desired outcomes are unattainable; however, if you portray the unique characteristics of a leader it will help you overcome stressful tasks with ease and confidence.
The person who I decided to interview who I thought portrayed good leadership qualities was Julie Graf. Julie is a charge nurse at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America located in Zion. Here, she works on an ICU/Surgical Oncology floor consisting
However, Julie stated that, “being confident and having a positive attitude are the most important skills that a leader needs to have and are also the most important skills that I have learned throughout my journey” (J. Graf, personal interview, April 9, 2017). Confidence is key when it comes to leadership, and part of your job as a leader is being able to be a facilitator for the group when things don’t go exactly as planned and providing reassurance. An effective clinical leadership requires competence in research and knowledge of nursing care (Atsalos & Greenwood 2001, Cook & Leathard 2004). It is important to show that you are confident and competent in the things you do. By staying calm and confident, you will help keep the team feeling the same. It is also important to always have a positive attitude even when things are going in the opposite direction. This makes you a more approachable leader and someone people can easily come to when they are in need of advice. Each of these attributes are key qualities that every good leader should possess and learn how to
These styles describe traits, behaviors, motivations, and choices used by individuals to influence others. One leadership style that I think Julie possesses is a democratic leader. According to Pearson (2015), a democratic leader, “encourages group discussion and decision making. This type of leader acts as a catalyst or a facilitator, actively guiding the group toward achieving the group goals” (p. 2489). This reflects Julie’s leadership qualities in multiple ways. Julie acts as an advocate for her staff and patients, a facilitator when things don’t go as planned, and is always trying new things to promote the best possible outcome for her patients and staff members. Julie stated, “I like to have pre and post conferences at the start and end of every shift. This helps us to all be on the same page for the start of the day and allows us to reflect back on the day as well so we recognize things that went well or things that went wrong and can make improvements if needed for the future” (J. Graf, personal interview, April 9, 2017). This is a good example of exactly what it means to be a democratic leader. Julie involves her coworkers in discussions and decision making in order to help guide the group to promoting positive outcomes for their patients and problem-solving together as a