Leadership and Professional Practice

This essay discusses the importance of transformational leadership in nursing through a clinical practice scenario. It explores the role of a nurse leader in enhancing patient outcomes and developing leadership skills. The essay also reflects on the implications for future nursing practice and leadership style.

Running head: LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1
Leadership and professional practice
Student name:
Student ID:
Author’s note

LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 2
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Description.......................................................................................................................................2
Feelings............................................................................................................................................3
Evaluation........................................................................................................................................4
Analysis...........................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
Action plan.......................................................................................................................................8
Reference list...................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
In the current essay a clinical practise scenario would be reflected upon, through the use
of Gibbs reflective cycle; within which a senior nurse exhibited high level of leadership, while
being receptor for a nursing student. The essay additionally discusses the importance of
transformational leadership theory for analysing the clinical practise scenario critically and the
ways nurse exhibited unblemished transformational leadership skills. In the final conclusion, the
essay makes brief reference about implication in regards to my future nursing practise and
leadership style.
The purpose of the mentioned unit is to explore the exact professional role of a registered
nurse and midwives. The essay additionally provides scope for developing my clinical practise
while enhancing the level of competency. The work will help me in gaining a clear
understanding of the prevailing advanced practises within the nursing profession that can result
in enhancing my clinical competency. A student like me can additionally gain a clear
understanding about the responsibility, roles and practises followed within the nursing profession
specially within contemporary roles. By undertaking a thorough study of the chosen work, I plan
to develop my clinical skills on the analysis of best practises and principles for developing my
clinical skills based on the analysis of best possible practise for developing clinical decision
making skill for managing the needs of patient and their family
Description
Clinical Leadership
The situation related to clinical practise is often related to great mentors and nurse leaders
with the potential and competence to emancipate the future nurse to emerge out as a suitable

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leader. As a nursing student I was blessed with the scope to work with different nurses under
various styles of leadership. I have gained immense knowledge from working with that and I
believe it will be valuable for my professional career as a future nurse. I had the chance to have
discussions of both new and even experienced nurses.
One of the recent clinical placement in regards to acute care I was bestowed with a scope
to work with a nurse with high levels of leadership skills, for instance let’s call her MG. MG was
an experienced nurse who worked in acute and even palliative care for years. I worked with MG
as student nurse for over 3 shift and one of the remarkable things about her, was her impeccable
communication skills and level of dedication towards the patient. I was attracted and impressed
by MG’s exemplary leadership skills and nursing care. She exhibited high level of clinical
efficiency and immense attention to details even under stressful situations.
Feelings
During one of my shift timings with MG I noticed one of my patients admitted in acute
care ward exhibited critical symptoms of health degradation and demanded immediate care. I
was worried and at loss about the protocols related to managing a patient in degrading condition.
On top of that the family members of the patient were by his beside making me tensed. In that
scenario, MG was calm and swift in her actions, explaining me the process as she participated in
the intervention. MG was interested and even kind in supporting my personal development as a
nurse by willing to include me in practical scenario of managing deteriorating patient. MG was
seen to exhibit sense and even reassurance to patient’s family and was able to communicate with
them in a right way by explaining them about the procedure and even the process. I additionally
observed the effect of MG’s skill of leadership from different perspective and the influences she
had on her colleagues. One such occasion I worked with another nurse, TJ who was junior than

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MG. TJ and I were finishing a prior change while preparing for handover. I noticed that TJ was
uneasy and made sure that everything is addressed properly. Her actions were highly influenced
by MG as she was always seen to ask questions during the events of handover.
Evaluation
Initial reflections on the events
Initially, my working experience with MG can be termed as a learning journey enriched
with high level of educational experience. I was highly inspired by her work ethics, time
management and even clinical skills. Observing MG, exhibiting confidence even during the
tensed scenario as per the NSQHS standards was admirable. The situation to which I was
subjected to demanded quick response. However, I was flustered and nervous and confused
about my response. Being a senior nurse, MG could have easily taken over the situation since my
initial reaction was based on confusion and even anxiety. Based on my past experience; I could
relate to the fact that other nurses would take over me and exclude me in critical scenarios.
However, MG was not influenced by the poor management of the scenario. Rather she was
highly supportive and encouraged me to take charge during the difficult scenario that eased my
anxiety. As stated by Cherry and Jacob (2016), nurses need to work in a calm environment to
ensure that they provide the right care to the patient
Critical analysis of the clinical practice situation
The situation to clinical practise enhanced the need for leadership skills at practical level.
The basis of leadership skills can work as a platform for interaction among the nurses making
suitable decisions for positive health outcomes. As influenced by Ellis (2018), transformational
leadership skills are seen to offer chance for a nurse to involve others in increasing the chances

LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 6
of achieving expected outcomes. The clinical practise situations are often seen to manifest the
requirement for the right management of clinical conditions for obtaining positive outcome. As
opined by Ailey et al. (2015), nurse leaders are seen to embrace transformational leadership style
for involving other team members enhancing the chances to address complex conditions. The
case of MG provides a clear understanding about the ways a nurse leader can shape performance
of a nursing student and even patient outcome by handling the complex situation (Ortega et al.
2018).
The clinical situation is often seen to demonstrate the excellent communication for the
nurses and even high level of decision making skills for adopting suitable care models. The
clinical practise scenario is often seen to address the diverse needs of the patients, demanding a
collaborative approach for care (White, Dudley-Brown and Terhaar, 2016). The transformational
leadership skills help in adoption of collaborative plan on the basis for delivering the right
quality of care as per the needs of patient. The implementation of transformational leadership
theory revolves around the idea possessed by MG that is important within clinical care practise
increasing the scope of nurses to obtain the proposed professional and personal development.
The situation in regards to current context exhibited high level of leadership as the nurse
leader was seen to instil important ideas and even attributes to the nurse students for addressing
the important cases in efficient manner (Tyczkowski et al. 2015). The leadership model can be
further implemented in understanding the needs of patients by including family members in care
plan of patient. The leadership style is seen to promote clinical practise that is based on clear
understanding of the possible problems. Review of the clinical practise scenario and care model
based on transformational leadership highlights the need for motivating the student nurses to
improve their performance. Munshi et al. (2016), argued the fact that effective leadership is seen

LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 7
to promote the possible chances of healthcare settings being highly responsive to the needs of the
patients under complicated clinical scenario. The mode of transformational leadership is seen to
makes sure that values of the patients are accommodate during the course of care (Scully, 2015).
The clinical case in the mentioned scenario highlights the need for nurses to adopt suitable care
models promoting the aspect of safety and quality. A nurse leader like MG displayed useful
skills of communication being deemed important in healthcare settings, promoting teamwork.
The situation of clinical practise is seen to reveal need for proficiency of an individual
nurse for determining the quality of care being provided to patient. Research by Fischer (2016),
support the conviction linking to the fact, nurses need to have important attributes for promoting
quality care, coupled with effective decision making. Attributes such as high level of
engagement with patient, communication skills, relates to the clinical situation in mentioned
scenario. However, it should be taken into account, the adoption of transformational style of
leaderships provides scope for the nurses to gradually improve their leadership styles. However,
as pointed out by Pihlainen, Kivinen, and Lammintakanen (2016), nurses do not need to be a
manager for emerging out as a leader. In support of the mentioned statement Lin et al. (2015),
further pointed out the fact a nurse need not be within a senior position to exercise duties related
to relationship. Rather the aspect of self-responsibility can be termed efficient way to ensure
better health outcomes. Conclusively, leadership within the context of healthcare and primarily
within the domains of nursing that can improve the working environment.
Analysis
The clinical situation based practise coupled with transformational leadership embraced
important implication in regards to my leadership skills and even practises. The mentioned
incident enhanced my perception in understanding the importance of nursing practise. It helped

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me in understanding the idea relating to use of inclusive model of care while improving the care
quality. The transformational leadership style demonstrates the importance of inclusiveness
while motiving the others to follow the leaders. The situation of clinical practise creates a
positive impact on my professional career. The clinical situation provides a clear idea about the
possible diverse situations that creates the need for diverse care (Cabral, Oram and Allum, 2019).
As per Standard 9 of NMBA practises within safety and quality improvement guidelines is
important and I personally feel that the mode of transformational skill of leadership is useful in
improving my own knowledge that ensures positive health outcomes (Lehtonen et al. 2015).
The case additionally fuels my critical thinking abilities and leadership skills. I have
additionally gained an understanding about the need to incorporate high level of clear
communication for engaging in meaningful conversation (West et al. 2016). Thus, on analysing
the situation, I plan to practise leadership based on effective communication model. The
leadership model adopted by me can have positive effect on my leadership practises as it
underlines the importance of inclusiveness of patients, gaining their trust. In addition to that I
plan to highlight the important details pertaining to clinical proficiency that can help in shaping
my practise as a nurse leader (Echevarria, Patterson and Krouse, 2016).
Conclusion
The situation in relation to clinical situation is seen to enhance the level of clinical issues
within the domain of healthcare. The criticality of the situation is often enhanced in case of the
nurses as they are highly involved with the patient and often termed as a first line of contact. It
would be fair enough to state, effectiveness in regards to nursing practises is often seen to
determine the health outcomes of the patients. However, it is additionally influenced by the
leadership skills of the nurses. The transformational theory of leadership is seen to acknowledge

LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 9
the collaborative model of work. In the mentioned scene, it can be stated, MG is a nurse leader,
exhibiting key aspect of clinical proficiency that can influence and motivate the other nurses for
providing high quality of care. Adoption and even implementation of transformational leadership
can ensure stimulating performance turning around the patient condition towards positive
direction. The clinical practise situation is seen to exemplify the need to provide an
understanding of the possible problems thereby initiating the need for appropriate care models.
Hence, the situation and reflection on the mentioned situation helped me to shape up my
professional practise
Action plan
I do understand the fact, that I lack the requisite professional skills such as exhibiting
calmness and adherence to the nursing protocols. However, in future, I plan to undertake
proactive steps that immediately meets the health condition of the patient for ensuring quality
care as per the NMBA standards. The adherence to the mentioned standard can help in
improving the condition of my profession and even the health of patients

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Reference list
Ailey, S., Lamb, K., Friese, T. and Christopher, B.A., 2015. Educating nursing students in
clinical leadership. Nursing Management, 21(9).
Cabral, A., Oram, C. and Allum, S., 2019. Developing nursing leadership talent—Views from
the NHS nursing leadership for south‐east England. Journal of nursing
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Cherry, B. and Jacob, S.R., 2016. Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management.
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in nursing. Nursing education perspectives, 37(1), pp.10-15.
Echevarria, I.M., Patterson, B.J. and Krouse, A., 2017. Predictors of transformational leadership
of nurse managers. Journal of nursing management, 25(3), pp.167-175.
Ellis, P. 2018. Leadership, management and team working in nursing. Learning Matters.
Fischer, S.A., 2016. Transformational leadership in nursing: a concept analysis. Journal of
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