Leadership
Authoritative ● Makes decisions for the group. ● Motivates by coercion. ● Communication
occurs down the chain of command. ● Work
... [Show More] output by staff is usually high: good for crisis situations and
bureaucratic settings. ● Effective for employees with little or no formal education.
Democratic ● Includes the group when decisions are made. ● Motivates by supporting staff
achievements. ● Communication occurs up and down the chain of command. ● Work output by staff is
usually of good quality: good when cooperation and collaboration are necessary.
Laissez-faire ● Makes very few decisions, and does little planning. ● Motivation is largely the
responsibility of individual staff members. ● Communication occurs up and down the chain of command
and between group members. ● Work output is low unless an informal leader evolves from the group. ●
Effective with professional employees
Characteristics of Leaders
◯ Transformational leaders empower followers to assume responsibility for a communal vision,
and personal development is a secondary outcome.
◯ Transactional leaders focus on immediate problems, maintaining the status quo and using
rewards to motivate followers.
Emotional Intelligence
● Emotional intelligence is the ability of an individual to perceive and manage the emotions of
self and others. ● The nurse must be able to perceive and understand his own emotions and the
emotions of the client and family in order to provide client-centered care
● Emotional intelligence is developed through understanding the concept and applying it to
practice in everyday situations
● Understands the perspective of others. ● Encourages constructive criticism and is open to new
ideas. ● Is able to maintain focus while multitasking. ● Manages emotions and channels them in a
positive direction, which in turn helps the team accomplish its goals.
● Is committed to the delivery of high-quality client care. ● Refrains from judgment in
controversial or emotionally charged situations until facts are gathered.
Management
The five major management functions are planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling.
PLANNING: The decisions regarding what needs to be done, how it will be done, and who is
going to do it
ORGANIZING: The organizational structure that determines the lines of authority, channels of
communication, and where decisions are made
STAFFING: The acquisition and management of adequate staff and staffing mix
DIRECTING: The leadership role assumed by a manager that influences and motivates staff to
perform assigned roles
CONTROLLING: The evaluation of staff performance and evaluation of unit goals to ensure
identified outcomes are being met
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is used when analyzing client issues and problems.
Thinking skills include interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference and explanation. These
skills assist the nurse to determine the most appropriate action to take.
● Critical thinking reflects upon the meaning of statements, examines available data, and uses
reason to make informed decisions. ● Critical thinking is necessary to reflect and evaluate from a
broader scope of view. ● Sometimes one must think “outside the box” to find solutions that are best for
clients, staff, and the organization [Show Less]