Nursing Leadership Essay

1124 Words5 Pages
Essence of Nursing Leadership
Melissa Frentz
Submitted to Norma Yearick, MSN in partial fulfillment of
NR 622- Advanced Leadership Concepts
Regis University
October 1, 2012

Essence of Nursing Leadership Leading groups of people can be life changing. When a person decides they want to lead they have to look at all aspects of their life and how they perceive themselves. They also have to see themselves how others see them. Leading within the career of nursing can also help a person understand themself, whether it is a formal position or an informal position. The essence of nursing leadership has many aspects. This paper will define nursing leadership, and show leadership in action.
Nursing Leadership Definition Leadership, according to Northouse (2013), is the “process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal” (pg. 5). Polelle describes leaders as artist, and their canvas is society (Polelle, 2008). Leaders must be able to mold their followers into what they need to be. Leadership in nursing can be both a formal position and an informal position. Nursing relies more on emergent leaders than on assigned leaders.
Leadership Characteristics Leaders must have certain characteristics to maintain their leadership status. Characteristics for leaders can grow and develop along with the person. These characteristics include; the drive for responsibility, vigor, risk taking and problem solving, exercise initiative in social situations, self-confidence, personal identity, willingness to accept consequences, readiness to absorb interpersonal stress, willingness to tolerate frustration and delay, ability to influence other people’s behavior, and the capacity to structure social interactions (Northouse, 2013). Leaders will exhibit most of these behaviors; while some may not exhibit all of them. In the field of nursing, leaders

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