NR 446 RUA 1 Leadership and Management Style
Complete an online leadership and management style inventory to discover your leadership style or preference.
My leadership style is a mix of democratic and autocratic approaches. In most cases, I value input from others and make decisions based on collective ideas. However, there are situations where I trust my judgment and make decisions independently. I feel confident taking charge and giving instructions when the situation demands it.
NR 446 RUA 1 Leadership and Management Style
Give examples of situations in which you observed or experienced any of the various styles in clinical.
During my clinical rotation, I observed a nurse manager using an autocratic leadership style. The nurse manager gave clear and direct instructions to the other nurses in the room to help a patient with an obstructive airway. She instructed each nurse to perform specific tasks such as keeping the patient calm, suctioning, and administering flushes. The nurse manager’s goal was to keep the situation under control and maintain a calm environment.
In what ways have they been effective or ineffective for you or for those with whom you have worked?
I believe the autocratic leadership approach was the best way to handle the situation I observed because it involved a “life-threatening” emergency for the patient. The nurse manager’s autocratic leadership style was appropriate to control and direct the situation. This leadership style was effective in cases where immediate action was necessary.
NR 446 RUA 1 Leadership and Management Style
Which style may have been a better approach in the situation?
During the emergency, the autocratic leadership approach was the only practical approach that could be used to address the urgent matter. The nurse manager’s decision to utilize the authoritarian leadership style was appropriate, given the life-threatening nature of the situation. Airway obstruction is a critical emergency requiring swift and efficient action from nurses who must think and act quickly to improve the patient’s condition.
Conclusion
An autocratic leadership style is a practical approach in emergencies that require prompt action. In addition, this leadership style can help to keep the situation under control and manage time efficiently during a patient crisis.
Reference
Marquis, B., & Huston, C. (2014). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
