Jacksonville University
November 17, 2011
Situational Leadership Theory
What is nursing leadership? How do we define an effective leader? These are questions at the fore front of every nurse whose optimal goal is to provide the highest quality of safe care to the patients and families who have entrusted their care to him or her. It is difficult to encapsulate the word leadership by merely attempting to define it. As nurses, we are constantly asking ourselves, how do we become more effective in delegating the care of the patients? How do I advocate for the patient? Ultimately, how can I elevate the standard of care of those who practice with me within the same physical …show more content…
Based on the review of the literature, I have concluded that as an emergent and growing leader, my fundamental traits are well in alliance with The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Model, since I adapt to any situation and rely heavily on team work, evidence based practice and I welcome group decision making. The principles of the Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership model, rest on the premise that there is no exclusive style of leadership and that the leader chooses the best course of action and their leadership style is dependent on the situational variable as well as the follower maturity level (learningdomain.com). Hersey and Blanchard believe that leaders should be flexible and adjust their styles as followers and situations change over time. This frame work approach to leadership not only supports leadership development through versatility and application of various leadership styles, it is also a great tool in clinical development of leadership capabilities amongst nurses as it presents opportunities to voice once learned experiences as well as evidenced based knowledge acquired through formal schooling, or by doing and observing. Touchstone (2009), advocates that the situational leadership framework assist in the development of staff using a range of reflective supportive processes. According to touchstone, the skills of the …show more content…
This same nursing leader seeks collaboration and the opinion from the staff members in the implementation of new policies and procedures for responding to cardiac arrest events as well as other protocol adaptation (this is an example of democratic leadership