Nursing Leadership Essay

Reflective Journal #2 Leadership

Elisa Williams Bridging to University Nursing, Centennial College NUPD 735: Advance Communication & Leadership Eric MacMullin April 2, 2023

Introduction

Nursing leadership is a process in which Registered Nurses (RNs) participate in critical thinking and advocacy to influence and empower others towards an advantageous change (Anders et al., 2021). Leadership is foundational to every nurse-client relationship and involves the ability improve the quality of healthcare, optimize

While working as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in a mental health facility, I took on the role of preceptor, training an RPN student in her first year. It was the first time I had even taken on the role of precepting and I was initially quite anxious, as I did not want to show the RPN any shortcuts or bad habits I had picked up over the last few years and I wanted to be sure that everything I taught her was in line with what she has been learning in school. I knew it was my professional duty to facilitate her learning by assisting her in meeting the mandated course outcomes and her own personal objectives. During this experience, I was able to share knowledge with her, demonstrate hands-on skills, provide her with constructive feedback, and help her gain

I was able to be flexible, take my time, and create a relaxed atmosphere (Arnold & Boggs, 2019) for her, while at the same time being assertive, focusing on one task at a time, and creating a space for her to gain competence and seek clarification to questions she had (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). Democratic leaders are goal-oriented, flexible, and give structure to those they are in collaboration with while at the same time, empowering colleagues to be independent and using effective and therapeutic communication strategies (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). During my time with this student, I encouraged her autonomy by leading and guiding her rather than doing things for her, such as showing her the documentation system and then assisting her as needed as she completed documentation on her own. During hectic times during our shifts, I was able to delegate tasks to her that she was competent with (i.e. vital signs and personal care) and continuously communicate with her so she did not feel as though I had given her an assignment and then abandoned her. We collaborated well together, ensuring that our goals for the shift were established in the morning and updated as the day went on. Several times a day, I would reflect back on my own experience as an RPN student and would think about what I would have wanted said or shown to me by my own preceptor in