Leadership Traits
As a nurse leader, one is usually expected to apply their intelligence, sociability, and authority to model employees into achieving the organizational goals. In leadership, it is indispensable for leaders to acquire traits such as the desire to lead, knowledge of the business, self-confidence, respectability, trustworthiness, and flexibility.
In this case, a nurse leader should be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of most nurses so as to effectively enhance their potential, and better their performances. Given that nurses are the central unit in hospitals, there is the need to acquire some leadership skills so as to learn how to effectively work with all teams (Bertocci, 2009).
For that reason, enhancing teamwork among nurses and other team players should be the critical task that nurse leaders work towards. Unlike management, leadership requires guidance; therefore, a nurse leader should at least possess clinical expertise in order to make the right decisions, especially since many lives are dependant to these decisions.
Formal and Informal Power in Leadership
In an organization, formal power refers to the position one holds in terms of their rank, responsibility and authority. In this case, the power structure of a hospital is usually divided into different ranks based on someone’s level of education and experience in the medical field. The leader does not have to possess leadership skills, instead, all they need is an authoritative title that allows them to command and control others. On the other hand, informal power refers to the respect earned from fellow co-workers as a result of the relationship built.
In this case, one does not have to hold the highest rank to lead, instead, he or she is measured by their power of influence among their co-workers. In other words, the most powerful person does not have to possess a leadership title to influence others into achieving a certain goal. It is their personality, and ability to lead that make them hold a leading position among their colleagues (Rigolosi, 2013).
Importance of Political Action Awareness of Nurse Leaders
In any medical institution, it is indispensable for nurse leaders to get involved in the political action awareness as it keeps them updated of anything that goes on in the health care industry. Given that these organizations are responsible for amending their codes of ethics and advocating for changes in the industry, getting involved is important as it allows one to air their grievances as a representative of their team. By this, one ensures that the structures formed are in their favor.
With the development made over the years, nursing has evolved to a professional status; therefore, there is the need to get involved, and be a part of the achievements made in the healthcare industry. One of the concerns that these organizations advocate for is the increment of their presence in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Matthews, 2012).
This way, they can gain more power to influence matters related to cost and quality of healthcare. In addition, one’s involvement in these organizations gives them an upper hand in the awareness of the latest advanced knowledge, and any information that might help improve the quality of services offered.
References
Bertocci, D. (2009). Leadership in organizations: There is a difference between leaders and managers. Lanham, Md: University Press of America.
Matthews, J. (2012). “Role of Professional Organizations in Advocating for the Nursing Profession”. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Web.
Rigolosi, E. (2013). Management and leadership in nursing and health care: An experiential approach. New York: Springer.