Nursing Leadership: Characteristics and Contemporary Models

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The complexity and dynamism associated with the modern nursing practice has made the
adoption of an effective leadership style a requirement. Nurse leaders play a significant role in
enhancing the quality of healthcare service. They facilitate adoption best practice; inspire nurses
to act in the best interests of their patients by acting as role models. Leaders also play an
advocacy role for the nursing profession. Due to the integral role played by nurses, Modern
healthcare organizations have increasingly become on identifying potential nurse leaders and
developing them. It is, however, challenging to do so. Nurses play a major role in influencing the
beliefs, feelings, attitude, and behaviors of the people they lead (Hutchinson and Jackson, 2013).
There are multiple approaches used by nurse leaders. Some of the most commonly applied
leadership approaches in clinical settings are situational leadership style, Transformational
leadership style, Autocratic leadership style, transactional leadership style, participative
leadership style, Laissez-Faire Leadership style and participative leadership style(Curtis, de
Vries, and Sheerin, 2011). The adoption of different leadership styles is determined by factors
such as the personality of a leader, workplace diversity, corporate culture influences and they
type of task involved. This essay offers a critical analysis of leadership in Contemporary nursing.
Some Characteristics define effective leadership in the clinical context. Leadership in
nursing entails critical suspects such as acting with integrity, resolving conflicts, a delegation of
duties and responsibilities and effective decision making. Though these attributes, nurse leaders
make major contributions in their organization. Discussed are some of the most common
leadership characteristics.
First, emotional intelligence is one of the most important characteristics of effective
leaders. Nurse leaders work with different categories of people in the clinical setting. They work

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collaboratively with and offer support to both experienced and graduate nurses. This
characteristic enables them to understand their own emotions potential impact of their emotions
top others. It also enables them to understand, recognize and influence the emotions of their
juniors (Feltner et al., 2008). Also, they work with graduate nurses to equip them with stress
management skills, enable them to deal with work challenges and assist them to develop
emotional intelligence. These aspects, therefore, make emotional intelligence on of the important
characteristics of effective leaders.
Secondly, integrity is also one of the most important characteristics in the clinical setting.
Leaders with this virtue walk the talk at all times. Their words match Their actions. They act in
trustworthy, moral, honest manner and are consistent. On the contrary, leaders lacking this virtue
cannot be trusted by the public, colleagues, employees or bosses. Integrity enables effective
leaders to use and instill among their employee's ethical practices hence enabling nurses to make
effective decisions regarding healthcare. Personal integrity also aids nurse leaders to make
decisions consistent with their code of professional practice (Milton, 2009).
Thirdly, effective leaders are people who are dedicated to excellence. They are people
tasked with the responsibility of prioritizing the best of their patients, staff, and organization
irrespective of the prevailing circumstances. Dedication to excellence is centered on ensuring
that exceptional care is provided to patients by individual nurses and teams within a clinical
setting (McSherry et al., 2012). Leaders can instill this attribute among their staff through regular
performance appraisals. Exceptional Leaders focus on improving the performance of other
nurses and trainees by acting as role models.

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Fourthly, effective communication skills are key for leaders. Effective communication is
a major requirement in the contemporary multidisciplinary patient care environment that is
characterized by high-level collaboration. Exceptional communication skills aid leaders in the
provision of outstanding patient care and the management of their staff. Through their ability to
communicate effectively through writing and in speech makes it easier for them to motivate.
Lead and win the trust of their staff (Tourangeau et al., 2010).
Finally, professionalism is also a core trait for effective leaders. The dynamism
associated with the Nursing profession requires leaders who are both competent and confident.
Leaders, they represent their organization at different levels and interact will all their staff. For
this reason, professionalism is an important characteristic. Professionalism among nurse leaders
is integral for healthy work environments (Ghadirian, Salsali and Cheraghi, 2014).
Contemporary leadership models are relevant to healthcare. A common understanding
exists among leaders in contemporary healthcare that the effectiveness of their organizations
does not solely rely on them. Therefore, there is a need for alignment of various expertise and
integration among departments to facilitate focused patient care, encourage innovation and
improve organizational efficiency (Wikström and Dellve, 2009). The healthcare industry has also
undergone various transformations creating the need for new more effective leadership
approaches. Some of these transitions have come through the introductions of new technologies,
new payment methods, care coordination models, new laws and regulations. A need has
therefore arisen for modification of patient care and workplace collaborations to meet these
emergent needs. These changes have also necessitated Leaders in these contemporary healthcare
settings adapt to the following leadership model.