A nursing career is characterized by a number of interesting and sometimes challenging tasks and responsibilities, and, in the majority of cases, it requires the development of leadership and management skills. Either as leaders or managers, nurses have to make sure that patients receive high-quality care and that the environment is safe (Kodama & Fukahori, 2017). At the same time, certain differences in the roles of leaders and managers cannot be ignored. Nurse managers are responsible for regular operations within their units, including setting and understanding goals, planning patient care, and improving quality standards. In other words, nurse management serves to direct people and maintain the best practices for an organization. Nurse leaders have to work directly with people (patients and other team members) and follow all working standards in regard to the chosen mission and quality indicators.
The goals of management and leadership may overlap each other when specific functions are set. Sometimes, it is expected for managers to lead, for example, by supervising and training team members or hiring new staff members. In some cases, leaders should manage employees to comprehend the possibility of cost reduction or the development of a new care plan. Taking advantage of such overlapping functions, nurse leaders also play an important role in facilitating change. As a nurse leader, I should realize that strategic planning is a step forward to a better future in nursing care. Within the frames of this process, a good leader must provide employees with enough reasons to implement change and empower the team with information and examples. It is not enough to set a new goal and a deadline but to help other nurses see opportunities, which means managing their activities and offering support. These steps are necessary to facilitate change, promote cooperation, and underline the worth of communication in nursing practice.
Reference
Kodama, Y., & Fukahori, H. (2017). Nurse managers’ attributes to promote change in their wards: A qualitative study. Nursing Open, 4(4), 209-2017.