NURBAN 3018: Leadership Styles and Clinical Examples in Nursing

This essay provides an overview of different leadership styles employed by registered nurses in clinical practice. It discusses four primary styles: authoritarian/autocratic, laissez-faire, transactional, and transformational leadership, providing clinical examples for each. The essay details how each style is applied in various situations, such as emergency departments, psychiatric units, and critical care scenarios. The analysis highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, emphasizing the importance of adapting leadership styles to specific patient needs and clinical contexts. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide range of study tools and solved assignments for students.

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NURBAN 3018 ASSESSMENT TASK 2
NURBAN 3018 assessment task 2
Leadership style of a registered and practicing nurse
MARCH 13, 2019
STUDENT DETAILS:

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Leadership styles of a registered and practicing nurse....................................................................3
Authoritarian/autocratic leadership style with clinical example in the registered nurse.............4
Laissez faire leadership style in the registered nurse with clinical example...............................5
Transactional leadership style in registered nurse with clinical example....................................7
Transformational leadership style in the registered nurse with clinical example........................8
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
Leadership styles are necessary at all positions of an institution. It is a process of helping
peoples/followers to enhance their patient care and services by supporting professional practice.
For effectiveness in leadership, the collaboration of staff is mentioned for the making of the
decision. By generating trust between the relationship of nurse and their staff, they enhance
motivation in staff to discuss their ideas and interest (Shereen Ragab Dorgham, 2013).
The discussion enlightens the aspects of the registered and practicing nurse and their
leadership styles. Where discussion is considered that what the registered and practicing nurses
are. How they instruct their followers and manage the situation during the critical conditions of
the patient in the clinic is considered. For this how they practice different leadership styles such
as Authoritarian/autocratic, Laissez-faire, Transactional and Transformational styles of
leadership according to the situations of the patients in the clinic is considered.

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Leadership styles of a registered and practicing nurse
Leadership is the process of motivating others to consider and agree with what and how
to work on needs and the process of promoting individual and cumulative attempts to achieve a
mutual goal (Xu, 2017). Leadership is a complex process of involving interactions between the
following three. One is the leader who led everyone, second is the follower who follows the
instructions and the third one is the situation, which requires leadership. It has the power to
motivate everyone to tackle every type of situations. Leadership works by providing motivation
and produce a resulting motivation to followers and results in a direct influence on the
achievement of challenging tasks (Efendy, 2017).
Leadership is around comprising of a distant-vision having an approach and permissive
people to work regarding changes done by leaders. Leadership associate with a clear perception
of their aim/mission. It establishes a plan to handle different obstacle during working on their
mission. The obstacle handled during leadership can be political, organizational and resource
obstacle. Leadership involves encouraging and motivating others to work in synchronization
(Nusre Leadership, 2015). Leadership styles enhance the quality of nursing care in the healthcare
sector. Relationship-aligned leadership style includes support, advancement, and
acknowledgment. Leadership has characterized a connection between the person who lead and
the peoples who get wish to pursue/follow and work towards a similar aim by coordinating the
actions of the team. There are many known leadership styles, in the laissez-faire, transactional,
transformational and autocratic leadership are highly familiar (Danae F. Sfantou A. L.-P., 2017).

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Authoritarian/autocratic leadership style with clinical example in the registered nurse
Authoritarian/autocratic leadership style is established during agreement composed by
the head after not mentioning the contribution of staff. Its positive side is that during
emergencies where there is less duration for discussion, it works wonderfully/perfectly.
Misconception is not indulged and criticism is placed on the person instead of on action of the
department (Frandsen, 2014). It is focused on power, controlling and close-minded, which can be
challenging people to work with leaders. Leaders demand loyalty, obedience and tough devotion
towards rules, due to which they may not be liked by nursing staff. It can provide positive
results. Because structure and priority towards needs are supported by these leaders (Murray,
2017). It is classified by the powerful supervision of leaders. It is also known to be the
commanding/directive way to reach the goal. In this conversation with followers is less and
attention is on achieving the goal. This style of leadership is perfect during the necessity of
immediate action. Leaders follow it when they have better knowledge of the situation. Making of
immediate decisions during the shortage of time and can reach to destination without delay is the
advantage of this style of leadership. Due to unsupported or not listed by leaders, followers show
their less interest in the achievement of directed goals (Cherry, Autocratic Leadership: Key
Characteristics, Strengths, and Weakness of Autocratic Leadership, 2018). This leadership style
is very worthy to fulfill the expectations of the public from the healthcare department at the time
of crisis. It has been lead at the time when there is no time for the voting and for discussion with
the nursing staff. During the implications of this leadership style, leaders only think about the
situation and take decisions in the seconds of time without being partial with anyone. It has been
considered at the time of emergency. The style results in immediate actions and saves the lives of
many peoples. Being delayed in taking actions due to the discussion or any other reasons may

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lead to the death of lives (Steinhauer, When 'bad' is good: A time and place for autocratic
leadership, 2016).
An example of this style of this leadership occurs in an emergency department setting of
St Zevix hospital. In the emergency department, a case of accident due to many vehicle
collisions came to the hospital. Registered leader nurse was taking their class with the follower.
When leader registered nurse get to know about the situation. Leader registered nurse lead their
followers and order a task to the followers to stabilize the situation without any delay in time and
without being democratic. For this leader ask the follower to provide first aid to stop the flow of
the blood after discussing with the physician. Then registered nurse led their followers to provide
pain relief medicine such as ibuprofen or opioids like oxycodone to the patients. Then they went
for the X-ray of the patients to determine injury or any fracture inside the body. Then fracture in
the hip was evaluated. To treat this fracture they choose minimally invasive hip arthroplasty to
the patient. Then the leader instructs their follower to prepare Operation Theater for operation.
After successful operation in the presence of surgeon, nurses provided therapy and holistic care
after leader instructions. By this, they achieve task immediately to stabilize the situation
(Advanced Pain Management , 2019).
Laissez faire leadership style in the registered nurse with clinical example
Laissez-faire style of leadership in which orientation of task is done during an emergency
(Murray, 2017). It is said by Bernard Bass in 2006, he said that laissez-faire does not need any
leadership; it permits nursing staff to work with least supervision and enable them to make
idealistic decisions. However, due to this authority, team members are not permissible to take
any action they want to take during their work. They stay in their limited boundaries and

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guidelines during superimposition of action. All management of authority to view all minor
things and hand overseen by nursing staff is a good way to lead high success in implementation
of this style leadership application in a proper way (Steinhauer, Laissez-faire leadership: You'd
have to be crazy to be this kind of leader, 2016). It is the process in which leader does not
provide any agreement/resolutions and nursing team works itself by lacking leader guidance and
due to hands-off approach few variations made only (Danae F. Sfantou A. L.-P., 2017). It is also
known to be permissive leadership. It is least interfered by leaders means the least ordered and
delegating way to achieve the goal. Development of goals, making of decisions and the authority
of their management is taken itself by the whole staff of nurse. Full support/help and feel of
being free to staff are provided by leaders and making of decisions is shared in the whole group.
Due to provided support and feel of free as possible as can for every person and motivation to
followers gives positive increment in the achievement of goals (Laissez- faire Leadership, 2019).
Leaders have provided the required apparatus and belongings. It is expected from employees that
they have to resolve circumstances by their own responsibility. This style needs faith in the
employees who implement this by the leaders of the team of employees. Leaders have to faithful
about the power of having the ability, knowledge of the team by which they can complete the
task successfully (Cherry, What is Laissez- faire Leadership: The Pros and Cons of the
Delegative Leadership, 2018).
In an inpatient psychiatric unit of Mayfield Psychiatric hospital, laissez-faire leadership
example occurs. A patient of bipolar disorder came for the treatment in the hospital. The patient
has a phobia to communicate with peoples and live alone all-time. The patient was addicted to
drugs also. Firstly, the patient was sent to rehabilitation center because of drug addiction after

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consulting psychiatrist. Then registered nurse provided holistic care to make the patient
comfortable with peoples. The nurse started counseling with the patient about their phobia of not
communicating with people. The nurse provided group therapy like making of arts, drama,
games, and outings in the society, yoga or mediation and motivate patient to talk with other
peoples during therapy periods. Nurses dealt with the situation by providing psychotherapy to the
patient. This processing was done in the acknowledgment of registered nurse leader (What Do
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurses do?, 2019).
Transactional leadership style in registered nurse with clinical example
Transactional style of leadership that concentrate only on to achieve the goal and
mutual/common morals of the group would not considered/classified in this. It addresses
administrative assignments. When assignment achieves success then they would be rewarded. It
is a fast decision-making style of leadership. It is very useful during an emergency where a clear
approach is needed. It considers the non-holistic approach to patient care but useful during quick
results approaching time. It is the best leadership style during critical circumstances (Murray,
2017). In this leader works like the head of transformations and making of transactions by the
support of their team for the lead towards an increment in the results (Danae F. Sfantou A. L.-P.,
2017). It helps in managing activities of specific nurse and team. This leadership style works in
the best condition by the help of nurses staff who acknowledged their professions and are
supportive of the profession by motivation due to the reward and penalty process. This
leadership works with the staff who are self- interested and reactive towards the situation. It is
based on the working style of leaders to achieve the goal they want to achieve by the help of
their group and in result leaders reward group that they want. It works effectively by

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understanding the work and the processing of work. It is not flexible according to the nurses. All
process would go through as per the directions instructed by the leader (What is Transactional
Leadership? How Structure Leads to Results, 2014)
An example of this leadership style occurs during a critical situation of intracerebral
hemorrhage in John Hopkins hospital. The patient came to the hospital who got seizures, severe
headache, numbness and weakness in the body parts. Then registered nurse leader instructed
followers to provide medication such as osmotic diuretics named mannitol and acetaminophen.
This was done to reduce intracranial pressure and acetaminophen to provide relax in headache.
Then new nurses were instructed to get an MRI and CT scan of the patient brain in the presence
of physician and technicians of the MRI and CT scan field. This was done to acknowledge the
proper situation inside the brain. Then follower nurses got to acknowledged blockage in the
nerves of the patient by leader nurse. Then new nurses helped the surgeon as instructed by their
leaders during surgery. This was done to open a blockage of the nerves and to remove clotting
inside the brain due to bleeding inside the brain. After improvement in patient health, the leader
about the post-operative counseling of patient, medications, and therapies for the patient advised
new nurses and for future also. Then followers provided therapy and holistic nursing care to the
patient to get rid out of the situation without losing hope (Brennan, et al., 2013).
Transformational leadership style in the registered nurse with clinical example
The transformational approach is mainly focused on the process of idealistic changes,
these changes would rely upon specific/personal or administrative status. Transformational
leadership is known for the capability to inherit by the head of the nursing staff to energize and
encourage their team. For this, chief of a nurse requires definite aspect to empower them to

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inspire, stimulate and motivate their faculty. A definite aspect/characteristic is charisma. Leaders
having charisma exhibit idealistic leadership collaborated with the leading transformation
(willcocks, 2012). It is a process that enhances courage in the followers by tempting to the more
advanced concept and ethical standards in which the chief has a profound deposition for
suggestions and constitutional principles. It is influential in the direction of the inspiring group to
perform for maintaining the best alternative in accordance with the interest of themselves (Rolfe,
2011). These leaders construct a supportive atmosphere where responsibilities are distributed and
safe environment provided to staff to take the risk to develop into artistic and inventive. It
identifies the significance of benefits and goes facilitate to appease the bigger requirements of
the follower by appealing person emotionally and intellectually when transformational leadership
is viewed the most productive model of leadership (Doody, 2013). It works as catalysts for
change in rules and constitutional in their approach, they distribute burden/authority with their
followers. They have clear assumptions about their goals. They are creative motivators to
persuade their followers to set up new ideas and follow them. It is a motivational leadership style
for followers. It is actively supported and goal achiever leadership style (Murray, 2017). It is
effective due to faith between the team, the best skills to communicate and understanding skills
of professions. It is positive and safe for the patients and walks to follow guidelines of the sector
also (Steinhauer, Transformational leaders: Change agents for good, 2016).
An example of transformational leadership styles occurs in John Hopkins hospital. A
patient of intracerebral hemorrhage came to the hospital. Then registered nurse leader instruct
direction to their followers to stabilize the situation. During this time, they motivated their
followers to have patience and to handle the situation by concentrating on the situation calmly.

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During that time, the follower nurse provided medication to reduce blood pressure and
intracranial nerve pressure. They got an MRI and CT scan by the help of technicians to check the
situation of the brain. They helped the doctor during surgery to get rid of blockage and clotting
inside the brain. They performed very well during all procedure because follower/new nurses got
motivated by their leaders and stabilized the situation of the patient (Brennan, et al., 2013).

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Conclusion
From the discussion done above, I concluded that nursing care plays an important role in
improvement in patient health. For this, leadership is very essential for enhancing the growth of
medical health institutions. Because a better leadership style encourages nursing staff to work
efficiently with a holistic care plan and achieve their goals positively for improvement in patient
health. Thus, these leadership styles would be useful for nursing future

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References
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