Leadership and Patient Safety Assignment 2022

Running head: LEADERSHIP AND PATIENT SAFETY
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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADERSHIP STYLE AND PATIENT SAFETY
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation

LEADERSHIP AND PATIENT SAFETY
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Introduction
The leadership style adopted in the clinical setting play a significant role in patient safety.
Generally, the performance of the healthcare workforce is determined by the kind of treatment
they receive from their leaders. The adoption of a specific leadership style may be determined by
factors such as personality or the working environment of a leader. In this regard, some of the
commonly used leadership styles by nurse leaders include transformational leadership style,
autocratic leadership style democratic leadership style, servant leadership style, and laissez-faire
leadership style. A leadership style such as transformative leadership style focuses on provision
of support, creation of a positive work environment and the involvement of employees in
decision-making. The leadership style has been linked to reduced employee turnover. Improved
patient satisfaction rates, improved safety climate, and outcomes for patients. This, therefore,
means leadership plays a significant input in the improvement of staff satisfaction levels, which
in return leads to patient experiences.
Section one:
DEFINATION / DESCRIBE LEADERSHIP AND PATIENT SAFETY.
Leadership refers the process of influencing others towards the realization of specific
predetermined objectives. On the other hand, patient safety refers to the elimination of adverse
effects and errors likely to harm patients in the course of their care(Merrill, 2015). Patient safety
largely depends on the leadership style adopted by nurse leaders. The role played by nurse
leaders in the enhancement of patient safety is quite substantial. As part of their professional
commitment, nurses are bound to ensure that they prioritize the safety of their patients at all

LEADERSHIP AND PATIENT SAFETY
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times. On the same note, by seeking healthcare services and agreeing to the terms of care,
patients entrust their health on nurses. Nurses are, therefore bound to ensure that they meet the
expectations of patients prioritizing the safety of their patients. They can do this by ensuring that
they provide their staff with necessary support and avail a working environment that makes it
possible for them to maintain safety standards (Ammouri, Tailakh, Muliira, Geethakrishnan & Al
Kindi, 2015).
A DISCUSSION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND PATIENT
SAFETY
The type of leadership style adopted within an organizational setting may, therefore,
promote or hamper the realization of safety outcomes for patients. Scholars have categorized
laissez-faire leadership style as the most dangerous form of leadership in healthcare
organizations. Additionally, the hands-off approach adopted by leaders using his leadership
model has been attributed to the deteriorations of employee satisfaction and patient safety
(Steinhaue, 2016). The leadership style may, therefore, may not promote patient safety. On the
other hand, Transformational leadership has been linked to safety climate in healthcare
organizations (Merrill, 2015).
Transformational leaders are the caliber of leaders in healthcare who can do anything to
keep the operations within their organizations in optimal levels. They are never afraid to try out
what has never been tried or do away with processes or systems that have been used for several
years in exchange of those that have not been tried yet.one of their most distinguishable
characteristics is the role they play in patient safety by acting as patient’s advocates. Their ability
to adapt to new changes in contemporary healthcare settings makes them most suitable in