Nurse Leaders Speak: Experience and Perspectives on Leadership in Nursing Practice

Nurse Leaders Speak 1
NURSE LEADERS SPEAK
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Nurse Leaders Speak 2
Nurse Leaders Speak
Leadership is a vital skill that is needed for all nursing professionals as they are required
to be confident and have the knowledge of leading others. A good leader requires to have
particular qualities even though some people are naturally born to be leaders (Swanwick and
McKimm 2011, p.24). As a leader, one is mandated with responsibilities of inspiring, motivating
and empowering people to facilitate change in the right direction. A nursing practitioner who
poses leadership qualities can motivate staff and to keep up their morale (Remus and Kennedy
2012, p.20). Clinical leaders can inspire others and promote vision and values by ensuring that
patients are at the forefront of every idea. This paper discusses my experience as a leader while
working as a registered nurse.
My experience as a nursing practitioner started when I was working in a ward for around
two months. I was able to gain confidence from my fellow staff and able to associate with them
well which boosted my leadership skills. Knowing people and communicating with them
facilitate trust as people can see what you are trying to achieve and start to work with you
(Hutchinson and Jackson 2012, p.21). I could come to the wards every morning and have around
15 minutes meeting with as many staff as possible. The team that I met included, domestic staff,
doctors, and physiotherapists. I wanted to bring change to the ward as it had previously
underperforming and underachieving its goals. While in the meetings, I would listen to my
fellow practitioners and various challenges they had on that particular shift. I would advise them
on any difficulties they had experienced or were experiencing as well as encourage them to
present their views on how they could bring changes or do things differently.
The meeting that I had were brief, but I ensured that I provided any information on any
changes by putting information on the boards in the staff room. I assured them that my office