Transformational Leadership in Nursing: Building the Future Generation of Nurses

• Nursing leaders must possess a variety of well-rounded characteristics. 
• Transformational leadership in nursing works to empower others. 
• The role of nurse leaders is to create more leaders by example, creating strong leadership for the future of healthcare.
  

When thinking about leading others and the importance of leadership in nursing, examine oneself to make certain that leadership characteristics are being exhibited. 

Common characteristics that are almost a requirement and unquestionable in a leader include: honesty, communication, commitment, empathy, visionary, organization, and a high level of responsibility. 

Nursing leaders work in various settings fostering professional development and quality of care standards. In addition, they ensure that those they supervise follow protocols that cultivate patient safety and high-quality care.

Important Characteristics of Leadership in Nursing

If one does not possess the above mentioned characteristics, how can nursing administrators empower others they are supervising to do the same?

Nurse leaders need to exemplify the following in all aspects of their career in order to promote effective leadership:

Honest and effective communication needs to be open allowing staff to know their expectations and the goals they are striving to achieve.   

 Commitment to others including staff, family members, and patients allows others to know that a nurse leader is not solely in a leadership position to receive personal benefits, but in place for those that are being led.   

 Empathy for others’ thoughts, feelings, ideas, concerns, and fears is a necessity. Because if a nurse leader cannot be empathic to others, how can one expect those who follow to obtain this trait?   

 One must strive to be focus-oriented in situations and able to dissect a problem to acquire a relevant solution.   

 Organization allows plans to well-thought out and implemented precisely.   

 Maintaining responsibility for one’s actions, attitudes, and responses at all times is also imperative.  A leader must deal effectively with others’ actions who do not accept blame for mistakes made.

In the same way, the nurse leader must also be responsible in accepting his/her own actions and be willing to work out a solution to the problem as soon as feasibly possible.

Effective Transformational Leadership in Nursing

Transformational leadership theory relates to an approach that causes change in individuals, creates valuable and positive change among its followers, therefore develops followers into effective leaders.   

Under this type of leadership in nursing style, the leader pushes staff to think critically and be proactive towards new ideas.  

Nurse leaders who utilize this form of leadership are imperfect individuals who courageously understand this concept, embrace their true selves, exhibit integrity, compassion, and a strong vision, which inspires followers to do the same. 

These leaders do not use power to make changes happen, but rather empower individuals to have a shared vision and goal for the organization. 

Competition is not a driving factor in this leadership style. Instead it uses collaboration among team members. 

Mistakes are not punished in a harsh manner unless needed, but rather viewed as an example of how to do better in the future.  

Employees feed on the example and personality of the leader to drive performance and full autonomy is allowed among the employees.    

A quote given by John C. Maxwell bears much truth when it states “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”  Likewise, an effective nurse leader behaves this way.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Transformational Leadership in Nursing

Transformational leadership can be an effective means of leadership style. However, it can also have challenges like any other style.  The approach of transformational leadership requires adopting a motivational management mindset with staff feeding on the leaders’ examples. 

Advantages of Transformational Leadership in Nursing

• Assists in keeping an organization open, honest, and ethical 
• Reduces turnover costs 
• Encourages change 
• Powerful and effective form of leadership 

Disadvantages of Transformational Leadership in Nursing

• Too much focus on the larger picture which sometimes tends to overlook small details 
• Increased pressure on team members due to increased autonomy which allows some to experience extra stress and feeling overwhelmed 
• Employee burnout due to increased responsibility on team members 
• Continual communication is necessary   

Nurse leaders focus more on day-to-day operations as opposed to focusing on the long-term. Which in turn allows quicker identification of areas needing change which ultimately creates a new vision.  The goals and objectives are shared among the team members, and the interests of both the company and employees align. 

The Bottom Line

Transformational leaders can inspire team members to maintain expectations, motivations, and perceptions that work towards common goals.  Nurse leaders exhibiting this type of leadership garner trust, respect, autonomy, empowerment, and positive outcomes in  developing leadership among the entire team members. 

These impressionable nurses will be the future of healthcare. We must do our due diligence to exhibit leadership in nursing for generations to come.

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