Introduction
I have selected the book titled “The Essentials of Nursing Leadership.” The authors of the book are Ruth Taylor and Brian Webster-Henderson. Taylor is a Professor of Nursing at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. Additionally, she is the deputy dean and has over 15 years of experience in clinical leadership. In addition to her exemplary clinical leadership work for students, Taylor peer-reviews other journals globally and selects student nurses and midwives. Webster-Henderson is a renowned professor and leader in nursing and healthcare. His contributions to nursing leadership include providing strategic leadership in the nursing departments of several universities, including the University of Cambria, John Hopkins University, and Edinburgh Napier University.
The Reasons for Choosing the Book
I have chosen the book because its authors present content that concerns the development of leadership skills specifically for nursing students. The leadership content in the book is extensive since it offers adequate information for both theory and pertinent practical skills. This is fundamental in helping me nurture ideal nursing leadership skills. Also included in the book are real-life narrations by nursing leaders, practitioners, and students. The narrations from various nursing professionals serve as enough inspiration and a roadmap on the need to impact nursing practice. The book has video interviews, case studies, links to other relevant journals, and activities to help nursing students reflect on the best leadership and management concepts. All the information in the book is authentic in its presentation of real-life situations in nursing practice. I think this is fundamental in helping students understand the link between theory and practice.
The People who will benefit from reading the book
A shallow analysis of the book can mislead one to postulate that the information in the book is beneficial to nursing students alone. However, I differ with such suggestions and instead allege that the book is beneficial to all nursing professionals, including students, practicing nurses, leaders, and researchers in nursing leadership. Students will benefit by knowing the link between theory and practice. Practicing nurses will find the content useful in helping them deal with daily situations at their workplaces. Leaders can learn additional management concepts and theories and, in the process, improve their leadership styles. Lastly, nursing leadership is a broad area that researchers are yet to exhaust. Any researcher with a focus on nursing leadership will find the book resourceful.
Main Issues and Points
The authors have divided the book into two parts, with the first part revealing knowledge and theory and the second part giving information about skills, approaches, and styles. The knowledge of theory enables the reader to comprehend the context of nursing leadership in diverse dimensions. The dimensions include nursing leadership practice in organizations, the inter-professional practice of nursing leadership, nursing leadership from the public’s perspective, and the emerging global issues in nursing leadership (Taylor & Webster-Henderson, 2017). The other part of skills, approaches, and styles reveals crucial information that nursing professionals can apply. The major points include coaching, networking, transition to leadership, harnessing leadership skills, and how nursing students can attain their leadership potential.
Influences on My Current Leadership Practices
The book has enabled me to reflect on my leadership experiences by carefully remembering past and present situations to have a better future in nursing leadership. Courtesy of the book, my perspective on nursing leadership is no longer the same. I can analyze my interactions with others in my nursing profession and, in the process, identify opportunities to apply the theoretical knowledge from the book. Additionally, my leadership mentality has changed into mapping out situations and tailor-make them to fit my leadership aspirations. Important of all, I am no longer quick at concluding. Instead, I weigh all the available options and select a decision that reflects my preferences while ensuring less harm to others.
The Ways of Applying the Content from the Book
I understand that reading a book and applying the content are two different things. There are ways in which the content from the book; some effective, some ineffective. The effective one includes finding out the common factors in situations that require a certain leadership approach, style, or theory. The knowledge of the common factors makes one flexible and innovative because one can apply leadership concepts appropriately. Also, it eliminates the ineffectiveness that could arise from rigidity that involves sticking to a particular style or approach and applying it to all situations.
Thoughts and Reactions
The authors of the book are straightforward on how nursing students should prepare for nursing leadership. I find the book quite resourceful because it illustrates the best ways to link theory and practical skills. It is common for students to understand the theory from resources such as books but fail to apply the knowledge in real-life situations. If students and other nursing professionals face the same issue, I recommend that they read the book. Through the book’s main points, the authors offer students the chance to learn the ideal ways of nursing leadership, including analyzing situations and recognizing the applicable styles for different situations. In conclusion, through the book, the authors offer authentic information on nursing leadership that is resourceful for students and other nursing professionals.
Reference
Taylor, R., & Webster-Henderson, B. (Eds.) (2017). The essentials of nursing leadership. SAGE Publications Ltd.