1. Access one of the following leadership style self- assessments at:
Your Leadership Legacy @ http://www.yourleadershiplegacy.com/assessment/assessment.php (Links to an external site.)

How Good Are Your Leadership Skills @ http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_50.htm (Links to an external site.)

What’s Your Leadership Style @ http://psychology.about.com/library/quiz/bl-leadershipquiz.htm (Links to an external site.)
and complete the assessment.
For the Canvas Discussion Forum for this week, introduce yourself. Share with the class a little about yourself (ie; where you work etc), what you hope to accomplish by obtaining your BSN, and what you hope to gain from this class. Then share some information about yourself as a leader to include:
a. What kind of leader are you according to the leadership tool assessment?
b. Any surprises?
c. Provide examples (stories) that demonstrate your leadership style?
d. What if anything would you like to improve and how might you do so?

Module 1 Discussion 2: Policy, Ethical, Legal Aspects of Leadership

2. You are the nursing manager on a 12 bed trauma intensive care unit that is 100% occupied 100% of the time; therefore, patients are boarded in the ED and PACU waiting for the appropriate bed in TICU. You are developing a proposal to increase the number of TICU beds. What policy, ethical, and legal issues should be included in your proposal?

NOTE: References are required for initial answers and responses.

Initial post due by Wednesday April 15 at MN and responses due by Friday April 17 at MN

*Respond to your peers by hitting the reply button and entering the text.

What Makes a good leader Paper

Part One (7 points) Leadership/Management Skills

1. Think about a person who you believe to be a good leader. This can be someone you know personally, a historical leader, a political leader, someone who have watched from afar, or someone you have read about or studied. This leader can be living or dead. What are the 5 qualities that make you think highly of that person’s leadership ability?

2. Relate a story or incident in which you believed this person demonstrated these leadership strengths.

3. Having head the assigned reading discussing leadership theory in the Sullivan textbook (chapter 4) and in the Finkelman textbook chapters 1 & 2, what predominant leadership theory does this person exhibit? Your rationale?

4. Identify a person you believe to be a good manager. What are the 5 management skills that make you think highly of that person’s management skils?

5. Relate a story that demonstrates his/her management skills.

Part Two (8 Points)

1. (3 Points or .3 each) All nurses’ jobs include some aspects of management, whether a staff RN or a nurse executive. Staff RN’s, for example, manage/coordinate the care their patients receive that is provided by other disciplines. Compare the roles of staff nurses and individuals that have defined, legitimate authority “manager” positions. Complete the “Examples of Management Functions” chart by describing one or more job activities a staff RN and Clinical Manager/Unit Manager would do. Your answers should illustrate that you understand the difference between a staff RN that incorporates management skills in his/her daily work, as compared to a manager in a “legitimate authority/formal management position”. Answers may vary based on your specific experience and what you have learned from required reading. Answers should also include substantive content (at least 2 to 3 sentences for EACH answer).

Examples of Management Functions

Function Staff RN Clinical Manager/Unit Manager

Planning

Organizing

Staffing

Influencing

Controlling

2. (4.2 Points or .3 each) All nurses are leaders. According to Sullivan (required course text), “a leader is anyone who uses interpersonal skills to influence others to accomplish a specific goal.” As with management, leadership may be formal (someone that has a “legitimate authority conferred by the organization” leadership role), or informal (does not have an organizational leadership/management specific title). An example of informal leadership, as discussed by Sullivan, is a staff nurse whose thoughtful ideas influence work flow and whose knowledge and personal skills convince others to follow specific paths to accomplish patient outcomes. As discussed in the introduction to module one, there is a “world” of advice available on how to be a “great leader”. Lauer makes suggestions such as: Be your own person, show the way with your own behavior, take risks and innovate, be transparent in everything you do, etc. (Reference: Lauer, C. (2014). 12 insights into great leadership. Becker’s Hospital Review, http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/leadership-management/12-insights-into-great-leadership.html).

Multiple theories exist that provide a framework for leadership success in varied situations. Based on a review of the “leadership theory” information from Sullivan, Chapter 4 and Finkelman, Chapter 1, identify the leadership theory that is represented by the below summary definitions and state why this specific theory is applicable for nurse leaders (whether staff RN’s or formal authority leaders).

Note that we are looking for specific answers for each 1) item based on the text content and definitions. You may answer 2) based on your opinions and experience (one or two sentences only needed for answer to number 2). Failure to provide answers for 1) that match the text definitions will result in a loss of points.

a. Definition: Leadership based on the premise of serving others; “leadership originates from a desire to serve. . . and in the course of serving, one may be called to lead”.
1). What is the theory represented by this definition?

2). Why/how is this theory applicable for nurses?

b. Definition: “Connecting to others. . . leads to greater success”; this theory focuses on caring and interconnectedness.

1). What is the theory represented by this definition?

2). Why/how is this theory applicable for nurses?

c. Definition: Involves personal competence, which includes self-management, self-awareness, and social competence; job skills and required competencies can be learned or developed.

1). What is the theory represented by this definition?

2). Why/how is this theory applicable for nurses?

d. Definition: Based on the concepts of chaos theory; “Reality and levels of complexity are constantly changing; roles are fluid and outcome oriented and change is expected.
1). What is the theory represented by this definition?

2). Why/how is this theory applicable for nurses?

e. Definition: Based on the empowerment principles of participative and transformational leadership; essential leadership characteristics are relationships, dialogue, partnerships, and boundary management.
1). What is the theory represented by this definition?

2). Why/how is this theory applicable for nurses?

f. Definition: Situational variables impact the leader-staff relationship, the task structure and position power. The leadership style implemented may vary based on the situation (the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitude etc of staff).
1). What is the theory represented by this definition?

2). Why/how is this theory applicable for nurses?

g. Definition: “Mutual stimulation and elevation that converts followers into leaders”; leaders need to be willing to embrace change, reward staff, and lead through vision.
1). What is the theory represented by this definition?

2). Why/how is this theory applicable for nurses?

3. (.8 Points) Ms. Innovative is responsible for the managerial oversight of a 16 bed ICU. Her responsibilities include 24/7 accountability for the unit. She is responsible for directing, controlling, staffing, and the overall management of the 16 bed ICU. Ms. Innovative reports to the Chief Nursing Officer/VP of Nursing.

Briefly (in a few sentences) describe whether Ms. Innovative needs to have leadership skills, management skills, or a combination of both leadership and management skills to succeed in her job/role? If you feel she needs to have both leadership and management talent, talk about what % of her job/role would likely involve leading versus managing.

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