- Reflect upon a leader or manager who positively or negatively impacted your practice. Do not identify the leader by name. Describe the impact on your nursing practice.
- Discuss the impact on the practice environment.
- Analyze the individual’s leadership skills using either the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) or the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) leadership competencies provided.
- Include a minimum of two different scholarly sources per week. Cite all references and provide references for all citations.
Reflecting on a Leadership Experience: Impact on Nursing Practice and Environment
Leadership plays a critical role in shaping nursing practice, influencing not only the individual nurse’s development but also the quality of care delivered within the healthcare environment. In my professional journey, I encountered a nurse manager who had a profoundly negative impact on my practice. Although I will not identify this individual by name, reflecting on their leadership style reveals valuable insights into how ineffective leadership can affect clinical practice, team morale, and patient outcomes. This analysis draws upon the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Nurse Leader Core Competencies to assess the leader’s shortcomings and identify areas for improvement.
Impact on My Nursing Practice
This nurse manager exhibited an authoritarian leadership style, characterized by rigid control, lack of open communication, and minimal support for staff autonomy. Decisions were made unilaterally, with little input from nursing staff, often resulting in unrealistic expectations and an increased workload. Constructive feedback was rare, and communication was frequently critical rather than developmental. This created an environment where I felt undervalued and hesitant to voice concerns or suggest improvements.
The impact on my nursing practice was significant. I experienced increased stress, job dissatisfaction, and emotional exhaustion. My confidence declined as I doubted my clinical decisions, fearing reprimand rather than receiving guidance. I also noticed a reduced sense of motivation, which hindered my professional growth and ability to provide optimal patient care.
Impact on the Practice Environment
The broader practice environment was similarly affected. Morale among staff was low, turnover was high, and team collaboration suffered. Nurses frequently reported feelings of burnout and disengagement, which impacted patient safety and satisfaction. The lack of psychological safety—defined as the shared belief that it is safe to take interpersonal risks—stifled innovation and communication (Edmondson, 2019).
Without a culture of mutual respect and trust, errors went unreported, and opportunities for quality improvement were missed. As a result, the unit struggled with poor patient outcomes, including increased incidence of hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions. The absence of effective leadership created a toxic work environment where neither staff nor patients could thrive.
Leadership Analysis Using AONL Competencies
Using the AONL Nurse Leader Core Competencies, we can better understand the areas where this leader failed and what competencies could have been demonstrated to positively influence practice.
1. Communication and Relationship Building
One of the most critical deficits in this leader’s approach was the lack of effective communication. AONL emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of trust, actively listening, and providing timely feedback (AONL, 2015). This nurse manager’s failure to engage in open dialogue or build rapport with staff directly undermined team cohesion and morale. Had they employed active listening and provided supportive feedback, they might have fostered a more collaborative and safe environment.
2. Professionalism and Leadership
This domain includes accountability, advocacy, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. The nurse manager demonstrated poor emotional intelligence, especially in conflict resolution and staff support. A competent leader, per AONL, should model professional behavior, take responsibility for unit performance, and serve as an advocate for staff development. Instead, this leader’s actions led to staff disempowerment and disengagement.
3. Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
Understanding systems thinking and evidence-based practice is crucial for a nurse leader. The manager frequently implemented changes without considering workflow efficiency or seeking staff input, indicating a limited understanding of how operational decisions impacted care delivery. According to AONL, effective leaders engage in collaborative decision-making and align unit goals with organizational objectives—skills that were markedly absent.
Conclusion
Reflecting on this experience has significantly influenced my understanding of effective leadership and its importance in nursing practice. While the impact on my own practice and the unit environment was negative, it has motivated me to pursue leadership roles with a commitment to emotional intelligence, effective communication, and staff empowerment. Applying the AONL competencies as a framework for leadership development will be instrumental in ensuring that I foster a supportive and collaborative practice environment in the future.
References
American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). (2015). AONL Nurse Leader Core Competencies. Retrieved from https://www.aonl.org/resources/nurse-leader-core-competencies
Edmondson, A. C. (2019). The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. Wiley.
Sfantou, D. F., Laliotis, A., Patelarou, A. E., Sifaki-Pistolla, D., Matalliotakis, M., & Patelarou, E. (2017). Importance of leadership style towards quality of care measures in healthcare settings: A systematic review. Healthcare, 5(4), 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare5040073