Nursing Leadership Journal: Observations on Influence and Protection

This nursing leadership journal entry reflects on the activities of weeks 7 and 8, focusing on the influence of a nurse leader and the promotion of protection and honor within the work environment. The author observes how the nurse leader shapes the work culture, aligns personal and organizational goals, and utilizes staff meetings to improve healthcare service delivery. The reflection emphasizes the importance of collective leadership and reflective practice to foster respect and continuous improvement among nurses. Drawing insights from the 'Issue of Power' video, the author discusses the essence of leadership as a positive influence driven by service and effective decision-making. The journal concludes by advocating for nurse leaders to identify and mentor future nurses, ultimately enhancing patient care through individualized approaches. This document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide array of study tools and resources for students.

Running head: NURSING LEADERSHIP 1
Nursing Leadership
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

NURSING LEADERSHIP 2
Nursing Leadership
The week 7 and 8 activities including participating in nurses’ staff meetings and meeting
with the executive leadership influenced my nursing career positively. Nursing is a challenging
and dynamic profession which requires inspiring and engaging leaders and role models. I
observed that my nurse leader, a preceptor, often plays a vital role in influencing the decisions of
the junior nurses. In the contemporary healthcare sector, developing and recognizing nurse
leaders is often a significant challenge. My nurse leader provides the best leadership style to
ensure proper provision of clinical services and promotes the development of future nurses.
Notably, I observed that my nurse leader particularly influences the work environment in
various ways. First, the nurse leader strives to create a suitable work culture that is appropriate
for all nurses (Hutchinson and Jackson, 2013). The preceptor establishes, manages and where
necessary deconstructs the work culture. A proper work culture involves the ability of workmates
to cooperate and work together, assist each other when problems arise and propose how
leadership can be improved to ensure the provision of better services. It also entails sharing
values and current research knowledge to shape decision-making skills.
Additionally, my nurse leader influences the work environment by matching personal
objectives and goals with the organizational requirements. Nurses are then able to be more
productive by concentrating on their work because their profession corresponds to their beliefs. It
is important to note that failure to match nurses' values with organizational goals leads to
dissatisfaction and dissonance (Wong, Cummings and Ducharme, 2013). My nurse leader also
influences nurses’ work environment through utilization of staff meetings to convey the best
strategies of health care service delivery.

NURSING LEADERSHIP 3
According to Weiss and Tappen (2014), nurse leaders influence values and protect other
health experts in the course of work. Nurses are faced with diverse values more so in their
respective workplaces. Therefore, they encounter conflicting demands in achieving
organizational goals, interacting with colleagues, and availing care for patients. My nurse leader
influences how healthcare providers derive their renewal and satisfaction to attain patient-
specific care (Weiss and Tappen, 2014). The influence also results to excellence because of
constant application of organizational aims of ensuring the best care to patients. Therefore, the
influence of my nurse leader educates health professionals on how to conduct themselves while
providing important patient care.
There are some ways that my leadership would enhance honor and protection in a work
environment. My leadership style would entail the collective leadership which makes sure that
everybody is involved in decision making. It also creates both collective and individual levels of
responsibility and accountability (Ross et al, 2014). Therefore, respect is enhanced among nurses
ensuring higher productivity. Secondly, my leadership would also involve providing education
on reflective practice to promote honor and protection. The standards of the healthcare provided
would automatically improve since nurses strive to make constant progress. Conversely, control
leadership style does not enhance responsibility, therefore, results in a culture of fear, disrespect,
and failure in comparison to the urge to improve (Blais et al, 2015). Therefore, my leadership
style will enhance diverse relationships that exist between nurses and their leaders.
The video on ‘Issue of Power' is very educative, particularly in regards to leadership
matters. According to the video, good leadership is the act of influencing other people positively.
Notably, the video discloses that it is important to note that leadership entails both power and
service. It further outlines that power is the capability to do something significant which can

NURSING LEADERSHIP 4
influence other people. Leaders should serve others to show that leadership is not about
superiority (Mannix, Wilkes and Daly, 2013). From the video, I noted that the essence or
purpose of leadership is mainly influence ("Grand Canyon University | Digital Resource", 2018).
Leaders ought to influence others to achieve or attain specific goals. On a similar note, the video
discloses that one the salient characteristics of a good leader encompass effective decision-
making. A good leader must be able to make right decisions which would be carried out by other
people. Additionally, the video outlines that it is the position one holds which gives him or her
right to authority. Conversely, most of the leadership failures are caused by the inability to
handle people competently.
In conclusion, the aspect of leadership is a multi-dimensional and complex phenomenon.
Leaders help in driving organizational agenda as well as attaining organizational goals. A good
leader ought to be one who involves others in the decision-making process. It is important for
nurse leaders such as preceptors to advance the health profession for the betterment of healthcare
services and care delivery. Preceptors have to identify important leadership styles and
techniques which are applicable to the nursing practice. On a similar note, they should focus on
identification and mentorship of potential future nurses to facilitate achievement of
individualized patient care.

NURSING LEADERSHIP 5
References
Blais, K., Hayes, J. S., Kozier, B., & Erb, G. L. (2015). Professional nursing practice: Concepts
and perspectives (p. 530). NJ: Prentice Hall.
Grand Canyon University | Digital Resource. (2018). Retrieved from
http://lc.gcumedia.com/zwebassets/courseMaterialPages/nur670_vpv01GUI.php
Hutchinson, M., & Jackson, D. (2013). Transformational leadership in nursing: towards a more
critical interpretation. Nursing inquiry, 20(1), 11-22.
Mannix, J., Wilkes, L., & Daly, J. (2013). Attributes of clinical leadership in contemporary
nursing: an integrative review. Contemporary Nurse, 45(1), 10-21.
Ross, E. J., Fitzpatrick, J. J., Click, E. R., Krouse, H. J., & Clavelle, J. T. (2014).
Transformational leadership practices of nurse leaders in professional nursing
associations. Journal of Nursing Administration, 44(4), 201-206.
Weiss, S. A., & Tappen, R. M. (2014). Essentials of nursing leadership and management. FA
Davis.
Wong, C. A., Cummings, G. G., & Ducharme, L. (2013). The relationship between nursing
leadership and patient outcomes: a systematic review update. Journal of nursing
management, 21(5), 709-724.