Nursing Leadership Reflection Paper

In the dynamic and rapidly evolving healthcare system, strong leadership is required to realize its vision. Nurses are essential resources for transforming healthcare through leadership because they spend most of their time with patients (Jiang, 2024). In this category, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) prepared nurses stand out as potential leaders, equipped with advanced clinical knowledge and skills. Nurse leaders should demonstrate behaviors and skills essential for driving change and fostering a culture of excellence.

These skills and behaviors include competency in strategic vision, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and the ability to inspire and motivate teams (Jiang, 2024). Nurse leaders can utilize these skills to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, drive innovation, and lead their teams toward achieving outstanding patient outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on my leadership qualities based on the results of the Authentic Leadership Self-Assessment Questionnaire. The key sections of the discussion will include the results of the self-assessment, plans for professional development, and the impact of leadership skills on the healthcare system.

Self-Assessment of Leadership Behaviors/Skills

The tool used to assess my leadership is the Authentic Leadership Self-Assessment Questionnaire (ALQ). This tool was designed to help individuals evaluate their strengths and areas for improvement across four key dimensions: self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and internalized moral perspective (Maziero et al., 2022). These aspects of assessment help individuals to gain insights into their authentic leadership qualities and identify ways to enhance their leadership effectiveness.

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The self-awareness aspect of the leader is measured using items 1, 5, 9, and 13. These questions help to measure an individual’s understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, values, and the impact they have on others. Questions 2,6, 10, and 14 of the questionnaire deal with the aspect of internalized moral perspective which measures the alignment between a leader’s actions and their core values (Maziero et al., 2022). The dimension of balanced processing is measured using questions 3, 7, 11, and 15 helping the leader to evaluate the ability to objectively analyze information, consider multiple perspectives, and make decisions (Maziero et al., 2022). The last part deals with relational transparency and is assessed using questions 4, 8, 12, and 16. This aspect assesses the extent to which leaders present their true selves to others, openly sharing thoughts and feelings, and fostering trust through honest communication.

Upon completing the questionnaire, I received a score of 62, which provides a detailed perspective on my leadership style and capabilities. This score indicates a relatively high foundation in authentic leadership, suggesting that I exhibit a significant degree of genuine leadership qualities. Reflecting on the results, I find that some aspects were anticipated while others were somewhat unforeseen. Self-assessment is an area in which I expect to perform well because I understand my strengths and weaknesses alongside the core values guiding my professional practice. I performed well in the areas of relational transparency which deals with openly sharing thoughts and maintaining healthy relationships at work. However, there were unforeseen results regarding the questions of communication and fully letting others know who I am as a person. Balanced processing is another area in which I got unforeseen results because I realized I am not good at listening closely to others and using their ideas to influence my decision-making process.

There are various strategies that can be used to improve unforeseen results like listening and communication from the questionnaire. I intend to enroll in workshops or seminars focused on active listening techniques (McKillen, 2024). These sessions can provide practical strategies to enhance my listening skills. Another plan is to participate in communication skills training programs that cover various aspects of effective communication, including verbal, non-verbal, and written communication. Lastly, I believe seeking out a mentor or coach who excels in communication and listening skills can help. Regular feedback from these individuals can provide personalized insights and help you develop these skills more effectively.

Leadership role in interprofessional collaborative practice

Interprofessional collaborative practice is essential in healthcare, as it brings together professionals from various disciplines to provide comprehensive and cohesive patient care. One leadership skill that can be used to improve this practice is effective communication. Communication practices of leaders should include building and maintaining effective working relationships (Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021). For example, open and honest communications are needed with staff to identify issues that may affect quality care delivery

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Within the concept of communication, it is also important to focus on listening, empathy, and feedback. These aspects are often neglected and they poorly affect the satisfaction of employees with their jobs. Good leaders must convey information in a clear and concise manner to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that all team members are on the same page. Encouraging open dialogue and creating a safe environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and feedback is crucial for collaborative practice (Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021). By possessing a full range of communication skills, nurse leaders can empower themselves and lead clinical teams towards excellence.

In conclusion, effective nursing leadership is paramount in today’s complex healthcare landscape with MSN nurses being well positioned to lead the change. Authentic leadership, characterized by self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and an internalized moral perspective, provides a robust framework for evaluating and enhancing leadership qualities (Jiang, 2024). My self-assessment questionnaire reveals areas of growth such as improving listening and communication. Addressing these through targeted professional development plans, including workshops, mentorship, and feedback mechanisms can significantly enhance my leadership effectiveness.

References

Jankelová, N., & Joniaková, Z. (2021). Communication skills and transformational leadership style of first-line nurse managers in relation to job satisfaction of nurses and moderators of this relationship. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 9(3), 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030346

Jiang X. (2024). Nursing leadership: Key element of professional development. International journal of nursing sciences, 11(1), 1–2.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2023.12.015

Maziero, V. G., Rocha, F. L. R., Campos, J. A. D. B., Dias, B. M., Balsanelli, A. P., Gabriel, C. S., & Bernardes, A. (2022). Authentic Leadership Questionnaire applied to Brazilian nurses: Evidence of validity. Authentic Leadership Questionnaire aplicado a enfermeiros brasileiros: evidências de validade. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem, 30, e3607. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.5868.3607

McKillen, B. (2024). Exploring the role of communication in effective nurse leadership and patient care. Nursing Management, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2024.e2081