Introduction
Graduate-level nurses should possess powerful leadership competencies. Such dexterities make it easier for them to empower their clients, offer evidence-based healthcare services, and realize their goals. Nurses should deal with the unique challenges facing their working environments. The possession of adequate leadership skills will address most of the issues affecting healthcare delivery such as lack of motivation and burnout (Wong, 2015). I have developed a personal leadership philosophy that supports my goals as a caregiver.
Findings From the Exercise
My Leadership Style
The completed assessment test has indicated that I have a participative leadership style. This managerial approach explains why I support and guide my followers. This practice is done in an attempt to produce positive outcomes. Individuals who embrace this style find it easier to empower, guide, monitor, and support others. In the healthcare setting, the style promotes various concepts such as teamwork, participation, and lifelong learning (Reinhard & Hassmiller, 2014). This style will definitely make me a successful graduate-level nurse.
Leadership Beliefs
The completed test supports my beliefs and values about leadership. For instance, I always embrace the idea of participation whenever working with my followers. It has always been my obligation to collaborate with different caregivers and physicians. It is my duty to guide my followers and equip them with appropriate skills in order to support the changing needs of the targeted clients. My professional approach to nursing is also supported by this leadership style. I embrace various concepts such as participation, decision-making, coordination, and teamwork (Drenkard, 2012).
Leadership Attributes Needed for Graduate Level Nurses
Wong (2015) argues that leadership is a critical factor in every healthcare delivery process. Graduate-level nurses should acquire and develop specific leadership competencies in order to emerge successfully. This fact explains why I have identified and developed powerful leadership skills. Experts believe that graduate nurses should be good listeners, communicators, and decision-makers (Wong, 2015). These attributes will make it easier for them to collaborate with their workmates and followers. It is pertinent for nurses to act as mentors. By so doing, they will empower, guide, and encourage their teammates. They should be empathic, critical thinkers, courageous (Reinhard & Hassmiller, 2014). Such caregivers should act in a professional manner. I have developed most of these dexterities in order to provide adequate care to my clients.
Personal Leadership Attributes that Will Support My Graduate Nursing Role
I strongly believe that my current leadership attributes will support my future role as a health practitioner. To begin with, I am a team player. This means that I know how to communicate, guide, and mentor others. This skill will make it easier for me to address the changing needs of my clients. The other strength is that I am a critical thinker. I am able to analyze a specific concept and implement it in a professional manner. As a participative leader, I focus on the needs of my followers and address them accordingly. It is necessary to apply integrity, sincerity, and trustworthiness whenever supporting the needs of my patients. My current competencies have made me a competent decision-maker and problem-solver (Wong, 2015). These dexterities will definitely support my roles as a nurse in the future. Consequently, I will be able to address the changing needs of my clients. This achievement will make me a successful healthcare practitioner.
Leadership Attributes to Develop
The leadership competencies outlined above can make me a competent provider of quality nursing care to my patients. However, there are some gaps that can be addressed in order to make me a successful graduate-level nurse. One of these attributes is anger management. Reinhard and Hassmiller (2014) argue that anger can affect the performance of an individual. Similarly, the productivity of a healthcare practitioner can be affected by anger. That being the case, I will focus on adequate measures and competencies that can make it easier for me to deal with anger. I am also good at procrastinating. This means that I take long before completing a number of critical roles and responsibilities. It will be appropriate for me to address this problem. Time management is a major weakness that affects my leadership philosophy (Drenkard, 2012). I will identify new approaches and strategies in an attempt to manage my time properly. I am planning to embrace the power of life-long learning. This concept will equip me with evidence-based concepts that can make a difference in nursing practice.
Concluding Remarks: Quotation
This quote gives a detailed summary of the essence of leadership in nursing practice: “The relationship of personal leadership style to the ability to impact and lead system change and improved outcomes will be critical as health care systems change to meet future challenges” (Drenkard, 2012, p. 153). Graduate-level nurses should therefore focus on the best leadership competencies in order to become competent providers of quality medical care. The ideas gained from class will support my nursing roles. This is the case because I have gained both leadership and practice-specific concepts in nursing. Such dexterities will make it easier for me to provide quality care to my clients and underserved populations.
References
Drenkard, K. (2012). The transformative power of personal and organizational leadership. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 36(2), 147-154.
Reinhard, S., & Hassmiller, S. (2014). The future of nursing: Transforming health care. The AARP International Journal, 1(2), 1-12.
Wong, C. (2015). Connecting nursing leadership and patient outcomes: State of the science. Journal of Nursing Management, 23(1), 275-278.