Leadership and Management for Nurses, 3e (Finkelman)

Chapter 1 Conceptual Base for Leadership and Management 1) The nurse manager has asked that all staff nurses develop effective leadership competencies. How should the staff nurses interpret this request? This is an unrealistic expectation, because only managers are leaders. This is possible if the nurses learn about and use relevant leadership and management theories and styles. In order to become leaders, the staff nurses will have to emphasize control, competition, and getting the job done. Unless the staff nurses possess the traits of a natural born leader, this is an unrealistic expectation. Answer: 2 Explanation: 1. A nurse does not need to have a formal management position with a management title to be a leader; if nurses demonstrate leadership competencies, they are considered nurse leaders. In today’s healthcare environment, nurses must have knowledge of relevant leadership and management theories and styles. This knowledge helps nurses emerge as leaders. Nurses are also leaders of their own nursing practices. Control, competition, and getting the job done are past theories and styles that are not as useful in today’s environment. Leadership is a skill that can be learned. Page Ref: 7 Cognitive Level: Analyzing Client Need/Sub: Safe and Effective Care Environment Standards: QSEN Competencies: Patient-centered care; Teamwork and collaboration; quality improvement, safety | AACN Essential Competencies: II. Basic organizational and systems leadership for quality care and patient safety; VI. Interprofessional communication and collaboration for improving patient health outcomes; V. Healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environments | NLN Competencies: Personal and professional development; relationship centered care; teamwork | Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Assessment