Nursing Leadership Summary

Patient X walked into the ER, dressed himself in a hospital gown, and became suddenly unresponsive. After regaining consciousness, he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Nurse A noticed that patient X’s temporal artery was in a rapid spasm, presented with right sided weakness, poor muscle control, and was bradycardic. Nurse A notified Nurse B of the symptoms, concerned that this was an acute, high stakes situation indicating neurological involvement. The physician began an assessment and asked Nurse A what she witnessed. Nurse A presented the patient’s symptoms and stated a concern with the neurological presentation of patient X. The physician turned to the patient care assistant (PCA) and stated he did not see anything wrong and asked
Unresolved communication conflicts lead to resentment and an unwillingness to follow leadership. It is especially important for leadership to communicate changes immediately. Korth (2016) recommends that nurse leaders make more time to mentor their staff and engage in unit conversations often, especially when changes are imminent. The ability to foster confidence and safety through leadership communication is a vital component in advanced practice nursing and helps ease transitions which can involve all the aspects of crucial conversations (Portoghese, Galletta, Battistelli, Saiani, Penna, & Allegrini, 2012). Mastering stories is a technique that helps communicate change by staying in dialogue when one or both parties are emotional so that resolution is achieved. Maintaining dialogue, even with strong emotions, improves the quality of the healthcare environment (Polito, 2013). Recognizing signals when a conversation turns crucial is another technique to help maintain safety and respect during critical moments (Patterson et al.,