Modern health care settings are complex and the registered nurse's ability to effectively manage her...

1. A Student Nurse's Guide to Transformational Leadership in
Nursing
Modern health care settings are complex and the registered nurse's ability to effectively manage her
department requires highly developed skills in decision making, critical thinking and adherence to
professional, ethical, moral and legal standards as outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The ability of registered nurses to be effective leaders will impact on staff, resources and the setting
and achieving of goals. This will, consequently, have implications for the quality of patient care.
Historical Approach to Nurse Leadership
Nightingale nurses of the 19th Century were managed by experienced nurses who were usually used
to managing servants. The role of management in the time of Florence Nightingale was
authoritarian and focused on rules, control, hierarchy and systems of punishment or reward to
motivate workers.
This role to oversee working conditions may have been appropriate for directing servants, nurses
and factory workers in the 19th century but today it no longer reflects the needs or values of
professional nurses. Todays nurses are graduates who have been described as knowledge workers
who want to be led (not managed) and this is the crux of transformational leadership.
What are the Principles of Transformational Leadership ?Model the way - active participation from
the nurse in charge engenders trust and encourages others to participate. A nurse leader should
never ask someone to perform a nursing task that she would not do herself.Challenge the process -
promote an atmosphere of creative problem solving, questioning of procedures and soliciting new
ideas.Inspire a shared vision - ensure goals are shared with the whole team (which includes student
nurses and unqualified staff).Enable others to act - support and encourage others, let them know
that extra effort is appreciated.Encourage the heart - show appreciation when others make an effort.
Use good listening skills and encourage a non-judgemental atmosphere.Transformational leadership
has the potential to transform the nursing profession so that it is up to date with the needs of the
current society and to enable nurses to have a stimulating and rewarding professional career. Cook
(2000) in The renaissance of clinical leadership, describes this style of leadership as "the key to
future nursing development" (p.41)What About the Role of the Student Nurse?
Student nurses are taught that with a positive attitude they can see themselves as part of the
solution to making the workplace one in which the experiences for staff and patients are positive
ones. Transformational leadership offers student nurses some strategies to achieve this goal.
Do not be afraid to ask questions when you are on a ward placement. This will ensure that you are
learning from experienced staff and helping to create an open and sharing environment.As a student
nurse you are not too inexperienced to mentor others. Be ready to encourage colleagues and show
more junior students how to perform tasks that you are now competent in.Learn how to be a great
communicator by first learning how to really listen to others.Practice an attitude of thankfulness and
it is likely that, in time, people will begin to thank you more for the tasks you perform.Patients, staff
and organisations could all benefit if a transformational leadership approach were to be introduced
into health-care situations. Communication, trust between staff, stress levels, absenteeism and staff
turnover levels could all be improved and the quality of patient care would also benefit greatly.
You may also like to read A Student Nurse's Guide to The Code of Conduct

2. Sources:Cook, M (2001) The renaissance of clinical leadership. International Nursing Review 48:38-
46Fedoruk, M. and Pincombe, J (2000) The nurse executive: Challenges for the 21st century. Journal
of Nursing Management, Vol. 8:13-20Huber, D (2000) Leadership and Nursing Care Management,
2nd edition. WB Saunders: Philadelphia.McCallin, A (2003) Interdisciplinary team leadership: a
revisionist approach for an old problem? Journal of Nursing Management 11:364 -370Nursing and
Midwifery Council. Information retrieved 22nd January 2011.Olofsson B, Bengtsson C, Brinke E
(2003) Absence of response: a study of nurses' experience of stress in the workplace. Journal of
Nursing Management 11, 351-358