Introduction
Based on the changing trends in the healthcare industry, it is necessary to have visionary leaders who will propel organizations to the next level. Effective leadership is an essential factor that enables nurses to thrive in their professions and advance in the healthcare industry. Also, effective leaders can better deal with complex healthcare problems such as chronic illnesses, new epidemics, use of opioids, comorbid illnesses, and vulnerable populations. This paper seeks to evaluate the insights I got from various scholarly articles regarding leadership and incidents involving the use of these skills and behaviours in practice.
Discussion
Q1) Two insights I got from the scholarly articles selected.
One insight I got from the readings is the importance of using evidence in leadership to facilitate positive organizational change. Broome & Marshall (2021) states that evidence-based research involves using empirical research data in all levels of healthcare provision, such as the primary point of contact to the broader systems. Besides, evidence should be implemented and evaluated by all the multifactorial team members such as patients, clinicians and leaders. Empirical evidence should be integrated and synthesized in healthcare practice, patient response and the entire caregiving experience. Duggan et al. (2015) study support these sentiments by stating that evidence-based decision-making involves integrating the best- available research evidence, practitioner expertise and needs, characteristics and preferences of community members in care provision. In leadership, this process involves using administrative evidence-based practices (A-EBPs) to boost staff performance, enhance accreditation and improve overall healthcare of the population.
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I also got insight regarding the role of servant leadership in healthcare provision. Broome & Marshall (2021) regarded servant leadership as a selfless leadership style that involves leading through vision, energy and guidance. Selfless leaders also share their experiences, hope, and wisdom and facilitate a sense of positive self-identity with the organization among their followers. Gunnarsdottir (2014) found a close relationship between empowering behaviour among servant leaders and job satisfaction among employees. The study also stated that servant leaders are essential in healthcare organizations since they encourage staff members, enhance access to information and resources and create open channels of learning, developing and engaging in the decision-making process.
Q2) A situation where I have seen these behaviours and skills being used in practice.
The first experience involved the nurse questioning the need to turn an elderly patient with bedsores after one hour to promote healing. The nurse-based her argument on an empirical study she read, which indicated that one- hourly turning worsened the condition of the pressure sores, led to disturbed sleep and also exposed the patient to fractures. This event portrayed the use of evidence-based research in healthcare provision.
The second experience involved a nurse who mistakenly offered a patient the wrong medication leading to a permanent disability. Since the nurse had documented the issue in the incidence book, the unit manager held her responsible for causing physical and mental harm to the patient. The nurse was subsequently convicted in a court of law and her licence revoked for five years. This event involved the use of servant leadership style in healthcare settings.
Q3) Extent to which these skills were effective and how they impacted the workplace.
In the first experience, the staff members would not ignore the nurse's opinions since they were based on existing evidence-based research. This event portrayed the importance of using evidence-based research while taking care of patients in healthcare settings.
In the second event, the nurse leader portrayed his authority in holding the subordinates responsible for their actions. Further, this experience portrayed the interdependence between the clinical area and regulatory agencies in guiding healthcare practices.
Conclusion
Through this paper, I have evaluated the use of empirical evidence and servant leadership as the two insights I got from the three scholarly articles. Empirical evidence should be integrated into all levels of healthcare provision and caregiving. Besides, servant leaders inspire healthcare professionals to give their best in care provision. The findings of this paper portrayed the need to use evidence-based practice and servant leadership in holding healthcare professionals responsible for their actions while offering care to patients and family members.
References
Broome, M. E. & Marshall, E. S. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader, 3rd Ed. New York, NY: Springer
Duggan, K., Aisaka, K., Tabak, R. G., Smith, C., Erwin, P. & Brownson, R. C. (2015). Implementing administrative evidence-based practices: Lessons from the field in six local health departments across the United States. BMC Health Services Research, 15(221). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-0891-3
Gunnarsdottir, S. (2014). Is servant leadership useful for sustainable Nordic healthcare? Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, 34(2): 53-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/010740831403400211
