Leadership and Management

Think about how theories of leadership and management impact nursing leadership and management roles.

Through the articles that I read and the power points that I read for class I learned a lot. I learned that nursing management is control. Managers control their environment and manipulate things to get the outcomes that they desire. Leadership on the other hand is to release control. Leaders are guided by group process. They collect information, receive feedback, and empower others. In the article "A nursing theory for leadership" Laurent (2000) uses a theory developed by Ida J. Orlando for patient care and nursing leadership. Laurent (2000) states that leadership is releasing the control to the employees. Laurent (2000) shared an example of management versus leadership. Management would be taking a patient, gathering the needed information, formulating a hypothesis, and implementing that hypothesis. Leadership would be taking a patient, gathering the needed information, formulating multiple hypothesis, validation (from the patient to meet the patients concerns, from information gathered, and/or from other nurses), and then implementing the best hypothesis. "Leadership equals direction, management involves logistics, speed and tools to go in that direction. Managers do things right whereas leaders do the right thing" (Laurent, 2000, 86).

I liked Orlando's theory and feel that it is a great theory to live by as a nurse. Patients need to be involved in their care and validating information with your patients will help to keep care patient centered as well as focused on their immediate needs. Leaders don't just jump to conclusions but seek validation from other sources before implementing care. It involves verbal interactions.

This also applies to nurse/nurse interactions. If there were a problem with a nurse on the floor a leader would talk to them, discuss the problem, and discuss the different solutions to the problem. Validating each solution to find the right solution(s) to fix that problem. Leaders are much more helpful and better inclined to fix things the right way. They see a whole picture.

I really liked what Laurent (2000) closed the article with, "Through providing direction and vision, as employees are involved in validating hypothesis about their performances and actively involved in the plans and decisions that affect them, leadership occurs. More importantly, if RNs provide that direction and help cast that vision, they become nursing leaders" (87).

I want to strive to be a nurse leader and to use Orlando's theory in my life and work as a nurse to give direction and do the right things.

Reference

Laurent, C. L. (2000). A nursing theory for nursing leadership. Journal of Nursing Management, 8, 83-87. Retrieved from web.ebscohost.com.

After class on January 17 there were a few more things that I wanted to add to my post. In class we discussed that leadership is influence and motivation to achieve a goal. We talked about how every individual is just as important as the next, but sometimes they need motivation to get to where they need to be. (something like that. to the point that some people may need more motivation than others) I also liked when we talked about how leadership is consistent.

Management is coordinated actions and processes. There are three different styles of management:

Autocratic: "My way or the highway" (Corporate policy, codes, God, and military)

Democratic: People get together and work things out

Laissez-faire: Anything goes

A good manager is well rounded in all three styles.