NUR 514 APA Assignment: Leadership Style Reflective Essay

NUR 514 APA Assignment: Leadership Style Reflective Essay

NUR 514 APA Assignment: Leadership Style Reflective Essay

The success of many healthcare organizations globally depends on their nurse leadership. Effective nurse leadership guarantees positive results while poor nursing leadership styles result in organizational failure. Therefore, as a leader, one must assess his or her qualities and determine whether they align with the organizational needs, especially in the current globalized world. The purpose of this leadership assessment exercise is to discover one’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement in leadership practice.

Self-Assessment Summary

Building and sustaining relationships is important for social interactions as well as in professional practices and depends on the psychological skills. It is for these reasons that I selected the psychological assessment. From the assessment that I conducted, my emotional identification, perception and expression score was 64. Also, I was impressed with the score in emotional management scale (74). The assessment results indicated that I have basic skills in identification, perception, and expression of the emotions in other people as well as mine. On the other hand, there are areas that I need to improve on and they mainly fall within the abilities to interact and communicate with others. In as much as identifying people’s moods and emotions is essential, it will be more reputable if I develop the interaction skills so that I can be able to help them out of the emotional distress and frustrations in case that is what they feel. Further, leaders who manage their emotions accordingly are able to handle difficult and technical issues emerging in the course of their leadership practices accordingly (Hao & Yazdanifard, 2015).

The second assessment that I undertook was the personality assessment, which focused on various aspects including energy, nature, mind, tactic and identity. As such, it was important for stress management in nursing leadership practice and thus worth exploring in this self-assessment. The highest score was recorded under nature and this meant that I effectively manage situations, make decisions and cope with emotions. Also, I tend to be observant and critically think about issues at hand before making the decision. In terms of mind, the assessment results indicated that I am 54% introverted and 44% extroverted, which I think truly represent my personality. On the other hand, I was surprised to learn that I am judgmental. The score under this aspect was 68%, which I feel could not be true. However, building on the results from the assessment, I am able to work on my weaknesses and develop competent leadership qualities.

The third assessment was on the learning styles assessment; this was important because it determines an individual’s ability to discern the prevailing situations and provide timely solutions as a leader. The assessment mainly focused on visual, aural, reading, writing and kinesthetic skills. The highest score was in the visual category (6) while the least score was in the kinesthetic. The VARK profile analysis basically focused on the learning styles where some people prefer the practical approach to learning while others do theories. As a leader, working with other experienced leaders has positively influenced my leadership skills development (Hao & Yazdanifard, 2015).

Leadership Style

            My philosophy of care is premised on having the ability to help other people using my influence in a positive manner. One of the leadership styles that closely aligns with that philosophy is the transformational leadership. Transformational leadership style is based on the ability of the leaders to empower their subjects and work jointly with them to realize the set goals and objectives. As a nurse leader, transformational leadership is appealing since it enables me to transform the manner in which the team under me works (Reid & Dold, 2017). One of the ways that this occurs is through influencing them to adopt my personal philosophy of care for the betterment of patient health.

Incorporating Elements

            Transformational leadership has several elements that might become incorporated into my practice. Through my nursing leadership practice, I would encourage individualized consideration for team members in order to allow them to transform not only their philosophies but make them align to mine. In addition, I would ensure that I offer inspirational motivation to all team members to transform patient experiences at the facility (Khoshhal & Guraya, 2016). Lastly, via transformational leadership, my team members will be allowed to intellectually examine aspects of care to elicit positive experiences from patients.

Areas for Improvement

On the other hand, despite having admirable leadership skills as per the assessment results, there are few areas that need improvement. First, the assessment results indicated that I am judgmental and I believe this is not recommended for a leader. Therefore, I will have to learn to appreciate people’s values and embrace diversity. Transforming my attitudes towards diversity will help me overcome the issue of being judgmental and equip me to be a better leader (Hiller, Novelli, & Ponnapalli 2016; Hassanzadeh, Silong, Asmuni & Wahat, 2015). Also, I will work with other leaders to learn from them in terms of how they handle stressing and most challenging experiences; this will help me address the issue of emotional influence on the decision-making process which also identified as a significant drawback from the assessment outcomes. Thirdly, I will work to improve my interpersonal and socialization skills; through this, I will emerge as a courageous leader who is able to interact with other people without fear. Leadership is all about working with others and this requires a lot of courage and socialization skills.

Conclusion

The leadership assessment results confirmed that I am a good leader with quality skills. It revealed that I am observant and think critically into issues before making decisions. Additionally, I tend to learn other people’s emotions easily and this means I can easily handle people based on their presentations. On the other hand, I tend to be judgmental, and introvert and these are the major weaknesses that I need to address to become a better leader.

NUR 514 APA Assignment: Leadership Style Reflective Essay References

Hao, M. J., & Yazdanifard, R. (2015). How effective leadership can facilitate change in organizations through improvement and innovation. Global Journal of Management And Business Research.

Hassanzadeh, M., Silong, A. D., Asmuni, A., & Wahat, N. W. A. (2015). Global leadership competencies. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 5(2), 137.

Hiller, N., Novelli, S. Ö., & Ponnapalli, A. R. (2016). Leadership competency builder.

Khoshhal, K. I., & Guraya, S. Y. (2016). Leaders produce leaders and managers produce followers: a systematic review of the desired competencies and standard settings for physicians’ leadership. Saudi medical journal, 37(10), 1061.

Reid, W. M., & Dold, C. J. (2017). Leadership training and the problems of competency development. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 23(1), 73-80.

Description:

The purpose of this assignment is to assist learners in developing effective communication by emphasizing the proper application of APA style. APA style is required for the graduate program.

Refer to the resources in the course materials and Student Success Center for assistance with APA. Use the APA Style Guide resource, located in the Student Success Center, to complete this assignment.

For this assignment, complete the following:

Self-Assessment

Self-awareness is essential for developing leadership skills. Recognizing your own strengths, weaknesses, and values, and understanding emotional intelligence and learning styles can help you to be a more effective nurse leader.

For this assignment, you have the opportunity to take a variety of self-assessments to learn more about yourself and identify your assets and weaknesses as a leader. This will assist you in discovering how you can improve your own self-leadership skills. You will be asked to think critically about your results and submit a reflection as directed below.

Refer to the study materials. Select and complete three self-assessments. Be sure to document the results of each assessment to assist you in completing the reflection portion of the assignment below.

Self-Assessment Reflection

Becoming self-aware is an ongoing process requiring introspection. The more often people practice self-reflection, the more opportunities they have to understand their own behaviors and adapt their approaches to working with other people, which can improve both your own and other’s abilities to meet their professional goals.

In a 1,000-1,250 word reflective essay, address the following:

1. Provide a rationale and brief summary for selecting each self-assessment. Summarize the results you obtained on each assessment.
2. Identify the leadership style that closely aligns to your philosophy of care and explain what appeals to you about that style.
   3. Reflect on how you might incorporate elements of that particular style as you exercise leadership in a practice or health care organization setting.
   4. Discuss any particular areas for improvement the assessments helped you identify and some steps for improving your leadership capabilities.
   5. Analyze the characteristics of an effective professional nurse leader, or individuals in nursing leadership. Discuss the characteristics and explain why they are effective for leadership in nursing.
   6. Analyze different leadership theories and leadership styles. Select one theory and leadership style, different from your own, and explain how they each support a professional nurse leader or individual in nursing leadership. Consider how the theory shapes the nurse leader in such things as collaboration, conflict resolution, decision making, and negotiation.

You are required to cite three to five sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.

Complete the “APA Writing Checklist” to ensure that your paper adheres to APA style and formatting criteria and general guidelines for academic writing. Include the completed checklist as an appendix at the end of your paper.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Materials if you need assistance.

Topic 2 DQ 1

Description:

Differentiate between “leading” and “managing.” Based on your experience in the health care industry, explain how an advanced registered nurse can lead well and provide management. Share at least one strategy you have used to effectively lead and manage staff within health care organizations Consider interactions with patients, team members, daily tasks, and responsibilities as you formulate your response.

Topic 2 DQ 2

Description:

Discuss potential causes of conflict occurring within health care organizations. What are some principles of negotiation and conflict resolution used by the nurse leader to address conflict? What model or leadership theory would be effective to use in addressing conflict?

Depending on the area of leadership a nurse is working in, she may not need to be a manager, such as in the hospital where a clinical nurse leader and a manager are likely two separate jobs. The clinical nurse leader would work directly with a team of nurses in direct patient care, whereas a manager would hold responsibility for managing resources, staffing, costs and quality improvement, and not be involved in direct patient care. I believe that both leaders and managers should have an understanding of both roles in order to be effective and part of the organizational team as a whole. In my previous example at my job of my manager not being a good leader, I think the larger problem was that in her team of 3 managers, two of them were also not leaders. If she used her good management skills, while her 3 clinical managers were the ones providing leadership to the staff, the organization would have seen the benefits of both roles. In this example, the manager would not need to be a leader.

With healthcare moving towards a value-based payment system, a nurse leader, while she may be focused on the workings of the team, also has the ability to recognize that her nurses are at the bedside, and can use them as a valuable resource, using systems thinking, in locating waste and managing resources with the goal of improving the financial health of the organization (Yakusheva et al., 2022). Therefore, she will also have management responsibilities.

It is important for advance practice RNs to become leaders, to be role models and agents for change. NPs especially will likely also share management duties such as managing resources, staffing, financial management/cost containment and quality in the organization where she is working, or maybe in her private practice, so I do see that APRNs will be both leaders and managers.

Topic 2 Participation

Description:

NA

Topic 2: Professional Leadership

Description

Objectives:

1. Differentiate between leadership and management.
   2. Analyze different leadership theories and styles.
   3. Analyze characteristics of the professional nurse leader and nursing leadership.

   

   4. Evaluate leadership and management strategies within health care organizations.
   5. Discuss potential causes of conflict, principles of negotiation, and conflict resolution models and strategies.
   Study Materials

Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our Verified MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS: NUR 514 APA Assignment: Leadership Style Reflective Essay

Description:

Read “From Trait to Transformation: The Evolution of Leadership Theories,” by Johns and Moser, from Education
(1989).

Read Also: NURS 510 -Policy Organization and Financing Healthcare Week 2 Discussion

Nursing Leadership From Bedside to Boardroom: Opinion Leaders’ Perceptions

Description:

Read “Nursing Leadership From Bedside to Boardroom: Opinion Leaders’ Perceptions,” by Blizzard, Khoury, and McMurray (2015), located on the Campaign for Action website.

Leadership Styles: Choosing the Right Approach for the Situation

Description:

Read “Leadership Styles: Choosing the Right Approach for the Situation,” located on the Mind Tools website.

Transformational Leadership: Becoming an Inspirational Leader

Description:

Read “Transformational Leadership: Becoming an Inspirational Leader,” located on the Mind Tools website.

Servant Leadership: Putting Your Team First, and Yourself Second

Description:

Read “Servant Leadership: Putting Your Team First, and Yourself Second,” located on the Mind Tools website.

What Is the Difference Between Management and Leadership?

Description:

Read “What Is the Difference Between Management and Leadership?” by Murray (2014), located onThe Wall Street Journal website.

An Alternative Approach to Nurse Manager Leadership

Description:

Read “An Alternative Approach to Nurse Manager Leadership,” by Henriksen, from Nursing Management (2016).

Nurse Manager Skills Inventory

Description:

Complete the “Nurse Manager Skills Inventory,” by the Nurse Manager Leadership Partnership (NMLP), located on the HWE Resources page of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) website. The resource is located under the “Authentic Leadership” heading.

Leadership Style Reflective Essay Assignment Self-Assessment Resources

Description:

These resources will be used to complete the Leadership Style Reflective Essay assignment, due in this topic. Please refer to the assignment details for additional instructions.

1. Emotional Intelligence Assessment: “Emotional Intelligence Test”: http://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3038
   2. Personality Tests: “Big Five Personality Test”: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/category/1
   3. Learning Styles Assessment: “The VARK Questionnaire: How Do I Learn Best?”: http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/
   4. Values Assessment: “Values Profile”: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3620
   5. Diversity Assessment: “Cultural Competence Self-Test”:
   https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/PROVIDERS-PARTNERS/SCPAconference/Cultural%20

What Is Servant Leadership?

Description:

Explore the “What Is Servant Leadership?” page of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership website.

Grand Canyon University Initial Course Survey

Description:

In an effort for continuous improvement, Grand Canyon University would like you to take this opportunity to provide feedback about your experience with the university. Your participation is appreciated. Click on the link to begin the “Grand Canyon University Initial Course Survey.”

Tasks

Content              70.0%

Summary of Self-Assessment Results      10.0%   A summary of why each self-assessment was selected and the results obtained on each assessment is not included.            A summary of why each self-assessment was selected and the results obtained on each assessment is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete.       A summary of why each self-assessment was selected and the results obtained on each assessment is present. A summary of why each self-assessment was selected and the results obtained on each assessment is clearly provided and well developed.      A comprehensive summary of why each self-assessment was selected and the results obtained on each assessment is thoroughly developed with supporting details. Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

Areas for Self-Improvement, Including Steps to Improve Leadership Capabilities        20.0%   A discussion of areas for self-improvement, including steps to improve leadership capabilities, is not included. A discussion of areas for self-improvement, including steps to improve leadership capabilities, is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete.         A discussion of areas for self-improvement, including steps to improve leadership capabilities, is present.              A discussion of areas for self-improvement, including steps to improve leadership capabilities, is clearly provided and well developed.   A comprehensive discussion of areas for self-improvement, including steps to improve leadership capabilities, is thoroughly developed with supporting details. Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

A Specific Leadership Style That You Believe Aligns With Your Philosophy of Care, Including Appeal   20.0%   A discussion of a specific leadership style that you believe aligns with your philosophy of care, including appeal, is not included.            A discussion of a specific leadership style that you believe aligns with your philosophy of care, including appeal, is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete.  A discussion of a specific leadership style that you believe aligns with your philosophy of care, including appeal, is present. A discussion of a specific leadership style that you believe aligns with your philosophy of care, including appeal, is clearly provided and well developed.              A comprehensive discussion of a specific leadership style that you believe aligns with your philosophy of care, including appeal, is thoroughly developed with supporting detail

Reflection on How to Incorporate Elements of the Leadership Style          15.0%              A reflection on how to incorporate elements of the leadership style is not included.     A reflection on how to incorporate elements of the leadership style is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete.          A reflection on how to incorporate elements of the leadership style is present. A reflection on how to incorporate elements of the leadership style is clearly provided and well developed.        A comprehensive reflection on how to incorporate elements of the leadership style is thoroughly developed with supporting details.

Required Sources            5.0%      Sources are not included.            Number of required sources is only partially met.    Number of required sources is met, but sources are outdated or inappropriate.         Number of required sources is met. Sources are current, but not all sources are appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.              Number of required resources is met. Sources are current, and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.

Organization and Effectiveness  20.0%

Thesis Development and Purpose            7.0%      Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim.        Thesis is insufficiently developed or vague. Purpose is not clear.        Thesis is apparent and appropriate to purpose.              Thesis is clear and forecasts the development of the paper. Thesis is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose.              Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.

Argument Logic and Construction            8.0%      Statement of purpose is not justified by the conclusion. The conclusion does not support the claim made. Argument is incoherent and uses noncredible sources.   Sufficient justification of claims is lacking. Argument lacks consistent unity. There are obvious flaws in the logic. Some sources have questionable credibility.     Argument is orderly, but may have a few inconsistencies. The argument presents minimal justification of claims. Argument logically, but not thoroughly, supports the purpose. Sources used are credible. Introduction and conclusion bracket the thesis.   Argument shows logical progressions. Techniques of argumentation are evident. There is a smooth progression of claims from introduction to conclusion. Most sources are authoritative.         Clear and convincing argument that presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative.

Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)              5.0%      Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or sentence construction is used.      Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register) or word choice are present. Sentence structure is correct but not varied.     Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct and varied sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are employed.         Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. The writer uses a variety of effective sentence structures and figures of speech.           Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.

Format 10.0%

Paper Format (Use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)    5.0%              Template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed correctly.          Template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken; lack of control with formatting is apparent.     Template is used, and formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present.               Template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in formatting style.              All format elements are correct.

Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style) 5.0%      Sources are not documented.              Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors.          Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present.           Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct.               Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.

Reflective practice is an important part of the nursing profession and leadership as it allows nurses and their leaders to acquire leadership attributes and understand their style of leadership. Reflection enables nurse leaders and practitioners to learn from their experiences and know weak areas and the need for future improvement (Porter-O’Grady et al., 2019). Reflective practice shows one’s strengths and initiatives that one can take to improve so that one succeeds in their assigned roles, duties, and responsibilities (Barker, 2021). The purpose of this paper is to offer a reflective account of myself based on three different assessment tools that I have taken. The paper also identifies a leadership style that aligns with my care philosophy and highlights elements of the leadership model that I should incorporate as well as areas of improvement. The paper also analyzes the features of an effective professional nurse leader and different leadership theories and styles.

Rationale and Brief Summary of Self-Assessment

Nurse leaders must be self-aware to improve overall care provision as they deal with patients in different areas. consequently, I took three tests that include a personality test, an emotional intelligence test, and a learning style assessment. The rationale for the personality test allows one to ascertain the effect of their personality on the perception of nursing situations and the environment. I wanted to know if my personality has an impact on the decisions that I make in care provision. The personality test revealed that I have a significant percentage of extraversion at about 68% and introversion at 32%. The personality test also showed that my energy is 57% observant and 43% intuitive. The test also showed that I rely on feelings at 68% compared to 32% prospection. The test also showed that my identity is 62% assertive and 38% turbulent.

The emotional intelligence test is critical as it allows nurses and nurse leaders to understand their ability to deal with a host of situations. I wanted to gain insight into my ability to respond to critical moments that require the use of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Emotionally intelligent nurse leaders and nurses are effective in their work as they understand the implementation of better interventions to attain quality outcomes and accomplish their tasks. The emotional intelligence test showed that I had 69% implying that I am soundly skilled in the identification, perception, and expression of emotions in others and even myself.

The learning style test was essential as it allows one to understand their ability to learn in a host of environments. Studies show the need for nurses to embrace lifelong learning to transform the healthcare industry by adopting best practices from research and clinical experience as well as patient preferences (Porter-O’Grady et al., 2019). The assessment of my learning style revealed that I had ten in kinesthetic, two in reading and writing, five in aural, and one in zero. The implication is that I learn mainly through observation.

Leadership Style Aligning with my Care Philosophy

Through intense analysis and self-reflection, I have realized that the servant leadership and transformation leadership models are the ones that align with my philosophy of care. Servant leadership means seeking the good of others at the expense of self. Servant leaders focus on improving the welfare of their followers and serving them. Transformational leaders focus on changing the status quo and improving care delivery (Barker, 2021). Therefore, these styles are essential for nurse leaders to impact their subordinates and inspire them to offer quality care.

My philosophy of care entails serving others using the best possible interventions to meet their preferences and conditions. servant and transformational leaders have a strong sense to serve and change their followers while ensuring the best interactions and relationships among members of their teams. These leaders listen, empathize, and uphold integrity as well as values and ethics to attain better patient outcomes. Therefore, these styles are essential in ensuring that I attain the expected patient care outcomes.

Incorporation of Elements of the Leadership Style

One needs to understand their strengths and weaknesses to make an effective leader. The use of these assessments allowed me to understand that I lacked self-reflection, and emotional intelligence and was not aware of my actions and decisions. As an effective leader, the lack of these aspects impairs my ability to offer remedies and solutions to issues in the practice environment and among the team members (Kibbe & Chen, 2019). Therefore, enhancing listening, building communities and effective learning from all members and other stakeholders would be critical in improving my leadership attributes and hence effective delivery of quality care to patients.

Areas of Self-Improvement and Steps to Enhance Leadership Capabilities

Self-awareness requires one to have a better understanding of leadership abilities and capacities. The assessment helped identify certain areas that need improvement. These include communication, the development of the relationship with team members and all stakeholders, as well as being empathetic to situations. The assessments also showed the need to incorporate emotional intelligence in situations that patients and other providers can face in care provision and delivery (Thomas, 2018). The assessment also showed the need for me to improve my personality by developing a more assertive identity through confidence-building, particularly when making decisions that support a patient’s life. I should also improve on how I handle colleagues and avoid being judgmental. More specifically, I should avoid using intuition when making a judgment in health situations. Situations require contingent approaches as opposed to being rigid in decision-making.

Characteristics of Effect Professional Nurse Leader

An effective nurse leader assists in the development of a common or convergent approach to care provision through the use of systems and employees. The nurse coordinates, integrates, and facilitates different services and applications to help patients. Individuals seek meaning in their lives and purpose at work. Effective nurse leader has to constantly reflect on their character and quality of work (Kibbe & Chen, 2019). The sustainability and success of an organization arise from individual and collective responsibility and the performance of all people. The leader must demonstrate openness and transparency to be a valued leader. The leader must be a role model to inspire and motivate their team to perform and be productive. They must show their commitment and engagement with their employees, be transformative, and be observant to avoid any situations that may affect the overall care delivery among the nursing staff members (Barker, 2021). An effective leader should also be reflective, serve the followers, and be transformative to improve the quality of care offered to patients. More importantly, an effective leader must bear the vision and mission of their organization and strategize while advancing the meaning and purpose as well as better welfare of the employees.

Application of Leadership Theory and Style

Different leadership models continue to emerge since the 1930s. However, the transformational leadership style is the most appropriate in modern health settings. The style is the most effective in a health care setting since it is founded on teamwork and focuses on the attainment of a common goal irrespective of individual concepts that may arise. The leadership model embeds honest, open, and effective communication to build positive interpersonal relationships among team members. The style entails team leaders communicating the team vision in a manner to motivate and empower the followers or subordinates (Gandolfi & Stone, 2018). The team leader inspires better loyalty and confidence resulting in increased levels of engagement, achievement, and performance.

The theory shapes the nurse leader to develop a collaborative approach to care delivery and seek consensus when a conflict arises to attain a resolution. It also helps nurse leaders develop better ways to decide on engagement and involvement. The model ensures that leaders can negotiate by inspiring and motivating the team members to be effective and perform better to deliver quality care.

Conclusion

Understanding one’s attributes based on their strengths and weak areas is essential for nurses and nurse leaders. The paper shows that personal assessments based on three different tests are essential for one to develop better leadership attributes and improve on areas that have weaknesses. The implication is that these tests ensure that one can adopt a leadership style and attributes to be better nurses and nurse leaders to offer quality care to patients.

NUR 514 APA Assignment: Leadership Style Reflective Essay References

Barker, A. M. (2021). Influencing and leading change in the complex healthcare environment:

The role of the advanced practice nurse. In S. M. Denisco (Ed.), Advanced practice

nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (4th ed., pp. 149–163). Jones & Bartlett

Learning

Gandolfi, F., & Stone, S. (2018). Leadership, Leadership Styles, and Servant Leadership.

Journal of Management Research, 18(4), 261-269. https://search-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=132968632&site=eds-live&scope=site

Kibbe, M. R., & Chen, H. (Eds.). (2019). Leadership in surgery. Springer International

Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19854-1

Mansel, B., & Einion, A. (2019). ‘It’s the relationship you develop with them’: emotional

intelligence in nurse leadership. A qualitative study. British Journal of Nursing.

https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2019.28.21.1400

Thomas, J.S. (2018). Applying servant leadership in practice. Nursing Leadership and

Management: Leading and Serving. 1, Ch. 3. https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs451vn/nursing-leadership-and-mangement-leading-and-serving/v1.1/#/chapter/3

Porter-O’Grady, T., Weberg, D. R., Mangold, K. & Malloch, K. (2019). Leadership in Nursing

Practice: Changing the landscape of health care. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.

PsychTests AIM Inc. (2022a). Big five personality test [Measurement instrument].

https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/4059

PsychTests AIM Inc. (2022b). Emotional intelligence test [Measurement instrument].

https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3979

Health care policies help to protect the health and well-being of our population. These policies are guided by rules and regulations placed on a local, state, or national level (University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences [USAHS], 2021). Following these rules and regulations assists with issues such as access to care, cost of care, delivery methods, and privacy. Health care policies reflect the decisions, goals, and actions that guide the care that is administered and how care is accessed.

Health care organizations are heavily impacted by policies. Organizations must abide by these set protocols to deliver consistent, quality care. Policies are put in place to establish guidelines to benefit patients and health care organizations (USAHS, 2021). Patients are positively impacted by policies in many ways: cost of care, privacy, patient rights, etc. One of the biggest issues within healthcare in the United States is cost of care and coverage. Due to this, a large focus of policymakers is placed on providing insurance coverage for more individuals. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act was implemented to help battle this crisis.

A major goal of health care is to provide high quality, easily accessible, cost-effective care. However, it can be very difficult to lower prices without compromising the quality of care provided (USAHS, 2021). Luckily, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can help to bridge this gap. APRNs have been utilized heavily, especially in rural areas with poor accessibility to care. Additionally, APRNs can provide care for less cost to the health care organization and patients. Nurse leaders can also advocate for patients by providing information regarding affordable care options. Often times, nurse leaders can refer patients to public health clinics to assist patients with medical services, access to healthy foods, affordable housing, transportation, daycare, etc.

 Leadership Style Reflective Essay 

Leadership is an important trait in nursing. Nurse leaders utilize their skills to influence others. Nurses can undertake self-analysis to identify the type of leaders they are as well as areas of improvement needed to achieve their desired leadership competencies. An effective nurse leader should possess knowledge and skills to influence others to act in ways that underpin the realization of the set institutional mission and vision (Wei & Horton-Deutsch, 2022). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze my leadership style, theories, incorporation into practice, and comparison with other leadership styles.  

Summary of Self-Assessment 

I undertook my leadership and personality assessment using the Big 5 personality test and VARK questionnaire, and values assessment test. The assessments showed that I am an effective leader. I am an extrovert, judgmental, and thinker. I also consider others’ values in making decisions. I consider the positive and negative aspects of the alternatives before making a decision. I utilized the above tools to understand my leadership and personality type better. The tools also provided insights into the ways in which I can improve my leadership abilities and personality better in my practice. The VARK questionnaire showed that I am a kinesthetic learner, which implies I learn best through action. This learning style will enable me lead others through coordination of activities and performance (Hughes, 2019). The value assessment showed that I am led social, realistic, and caring value. Therefore, I would leverage on these values to influence the decisions and actions of those I lead positively.  

Leadership Style that Aligns With My Philosophy 

The leadership style that closely aligns with my philosophy is visionary leadership style. Visionary leadership style is an approach to leadership where the leader drives progress and change by inspiring those they lead. These leaders strive at earning the trust of those they lead for them to instill new ways of undertaking things. They also value strong bonding between them and their followers (Wei & Horton-Deutsch, 2022). The effectiveness of this leadership is that it can transform organizations and facilitate effective corporate restructuring. The unique characteristics of visionary leaders include being persistent, bold, strategic, risk taking, inspirational, optimistic, and innovative (Rothwell, 2020). I believe this is the leadership that aligns with my philosophy since I value influencing others by sharing vision with them. I also strive to gain their trust, as a way of facilitating easy adoption of any proposed change in the organization.  

Incorporating into Practice 

I can incorporate the elements of visionary leadership style into my practice in some ways. One of them is by communicating organization’s or change vision and mission to the followers. I can persuade the followers to see a sense and need for a proposed change in the organization. I can drive excellence in organizational transformation by motivating them to embrace proposed initiatives in the organization (Rothwell, 2020). The other way in which I can incorporate the leadership style into my practice is by encouraging innovation. Visionary leaders encourage their followers to explore innovative, effective, and efficient strategies that can be adopted to achieve optimum outcomes in the care process. I can also adopt the style in practice by encouraging strategic thinking and decision-making (Wei & Horton-Deutsch, 2022). This entails having followers consider strategies such as collecting facts, developing alternatives, and selecting the best decisions when solving issues facing them.  

Areas of Improvement 

The undertaken assessments revealed some areas of improvement that I should consider. One of them is teamwork. The assessment showed that I have moderate teamwork and teambuilding skills. I have to engage in activities that increase my competencies in leading and initiating team activities. The second area of improvement that I need to improve based on the assessment is the use of reflective practice. Reflective practice is an important tool for personal and professional development as a nurse. It increases our understanding of our strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities we need to explore to achieve better outcomes in our personal and professional lives (Esterhuizen, 2019; Patel & Metersky, 2022). I discovered that I have been rarely using reflective practice to improve myself. I will incorporate it into my routines to enhance my leadership abilities.  

Characteristics of Effective Professional Nurse Leader 

Effective professional nurse leaders have unique characteristics. One of them is effective leading of self. The nurse leaders have effective self-governance knowledge and skills. This includes being self-aware of themselves, adaptable, self-motivated, and knowledgeable. The other characteristic of effective professional nurses is innovative. These leaders can inspire others to identify new ways of providing patient care and meeting the needs of their stakeholders. They also lead them in implementing innovative practices and transformation of the organizational culture to support excellence. The other characteristic is good listeners and speakers. They understand the importance of good listening skills to understand the needs and support their staff (Stanley & Stanley, 2018). They also utilize effective speaking skills to be understood by the followers and influence them too.  

Leadership Theories and Styles 

Nurse leaders and managers can adopt different leadership styles and theories in their practice. The leadership theories that are applicable to nursing include participative, transactional, transformational, situational, and trait theories. Some of the leadership styles include servant, visionary, democratic, autocratic, and laissez-faire leadership styles (Wei & Horton-Deutsch, 2022). A leadership style different from my style is servant leadership. Servant leadership is a type of leadership style where leaders exist to fulfill the needs of those they lead. They are dedicated to identifying and meeting the needs and concerns of their followers. The emphasis in this leadership style is on active collaboration and employee satisfaction. Servant leadership style supports leaders to develop transformative, employee-centered strategies in organizations (Best, 2020).  

A leadership theory that is different from mine is transactional leadership theory. Transactional leadership theory is largely focused on employee management. Transactional leaders emphasize the utilization of interventions such as rewarding performance and upholding organizational standards and policies to achieve the set goals. Transactional leadership theory supports nurses in leadership by helping them understand ways of motivating employees to achieve optimum outcomes. It also increases their understanding of the need for strategies such as collaboration for the success of their organization (Hughes, 2019). Understanding and meeting employee needs help nurse leaders develop conflict resolution and decision-making skills.  

Conclusion 

The assessments revealed that I am an effective leader with personality traits and values that supports teamwork, openness, and innovation. Visionary styles align the most with my philosophy. Different leadership styles and theories exist. Leadership styles and theories such as servant leadership and transactional theory contribute to the nurses’ development of their desired competencies in leading others in their organizations.  

 References 

Best, C. (2020). Is there a place for servant leadership in nursing? Practice Nursing, 31(3), 128–132. https://doi.org/10.12968/pnur.2020.31.3.128 

Esterhuizen, P. (2019). Reflective practice in nursing. Learning Matters. 

Hughes, V. (2019). Nurse leader impact: a review. Nursing Management, 50(4), 42–49. Doi: 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000554338.47637.23 

Patel, K. M., & Metersky, K. (2022). Reflective practice in nursing: a concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 33(3), 180–187. https://doi.org/10.1111/2047-3095.12350 

Rothwell, D. (2020). Leadership-A Nursing Imperative for 2020 and Beyond! Canadian Journal of Critical Care Nursing, 31(1). 

Stanley, D., & Stanley, K. (2018). Clinical leadership and nursing explored: a literature search. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(9–10), 1730–1743. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14145 

Wei, H., & Horton-Deutsch, S. (2022). Visionary Leadership In Healthcare. Sigma Theta Tau. 

 

Appendix: APA Checklist  

APA Writing Checklist 

Use this document as a checklist for each paper you will write throughout your GCU graduate program. Follow specific instructions indicated in the assignment and use this checklist to help ensure correct grammar and APA formatting. Refer to the APA resources available in the GCU Library and Student Success Center.  

​​☒​ APA paper template (located in the Student Success Center/Writing Center) is utilized for the correct format of the paper. APA style is applied, and format is correct throughout. 

​​☒​  The title page is present. APA format is applied correctly. There are no errors. 

​​☒​ The introduction is present. APA format is applied correctly. There are no errors. 

​​☒​ Topic is well defined. 

​​☒​ Strong thesis statement is included in the introduction of the paper.  

​​☒​ The thesis statement is consistently threaded throughout the paper and included in the conclusion. 

​​☒​ Paragraph development: Each paragraph has an introductory statement, two or three sentences as the body of the paragraph, and a transition sentence to facilitate the flow of information. The sections of the main body are organized to reflect the main points of the author. APA format is applied correctly. There are no errors. 

​​☒​ All sources are cited. APA style and format are correctly applied and are free from error. 

​​☒​ Sources are completely and correctly documented on a References page, as appropriate to assignment and APA style, and format is free of error.  

Scholarly Resources: Scholarly resources are written with a focus on a specific subject discipline and usually written by an expert in the same subject field. Scholarly resources are written for an academic audience. 

Examples of Scholarly Resources include: Academic journals, books written by experts in a field, and formally published encyclopedias and dictionaries. 

Peer-Reviewed Journals: Peer-reviewed journals are evaluated prior to publication by experts in the journal’s subject discipline. This process ensures that the articles published within the journal are academically rigorous and meet the required expectations of an article in that subject discipline. 

Empirical Journal Article: This type of scholarly resource is a subset of scholarly articles that reports the original finding of an observational or experimental research study. Common aspects found within an empirical article include: literature review, methodology, results, and discussion. 

Adapted from “Evaluating Resources: Defining Scholarly Resources,” located in Research Guides in the GCU Library. 

​​☒​ The writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. Utilize writing resources such as Grammarly, LopesWrite report, and ThinkingStorm to check your writing.