Effect of Personality on Effective Nursing Leadership Paper Example

Introduction

The selected topic for this study is Effect of Personality on Effective Nursing Leadership. An effective nursing leader is the one who can inspire and mentor others to work in unison towards the accomplishment of enhanced patient care, which is essential in nursing practices. According to Scully (2014), nursing is a dynamic and compelling profession which depends on engaging and inspiring role models and leaders. There is a need for exploring the impact of one's personality when it comes to the delivery of effective leadership. This study will focus on demonstrating the correlation between personal traits (inherent personal values) and effective nursing leadership.

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Literature Review

The literature review section will focus on exploring the previously done studies which are related to the nursing leadership and impact of the personality towards the effective nursing leadership. The current nature of the nursing practice is characterized by the ever-changing working conditions, through which nurse leaders are expected to offer constant guidance to the nursing practitioners (Scully, 2014). It follows that capable clinical leaders and managers play a significant role in the healthcare system since they are bequeathed the responsibilities of managing human and financial resources required in the provision of quality patient care. Through the use of behavioral and trait theories, the research will analyze various ideologies regarding effective nursing leadership. While researching the essentials of the Whitehead, Weiss, and Tappen (2010) revealed that different leadership models are required in various contexts. This implies that nurse leaders should embrace a particular set of behaviors and qualities (personal attributes) to make them fit in different nursing situations.

Gerhardt et al. (2002) provided a critical review on the five-factor model of personality (commonly referred to as Big Five), thus presenting a basis of how this approach can be utilized in describing the salient aspects of personalities in relation to nursing leadership. The dimension constituting the five-factor model include neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness (Gerhardt et al., 2002). These elements are crucial in when it comes to the depiction of one's personality in correlation with acceptable leadership attributes. For example, Gerhardt et al. (2002) assert that neuroticism epitomizes the tendencies of exhibiting poor emotional adjustment and experience adverse effects which can trigger anxiety, insecurity, and hostility, thus hindering the nurturing of the effective leadership attributes. This implies that personality traits such as hostility and anxiety can hamper one's self-esteem which is a significant element of both superior and subordinate in the evaluation of leadership effectiveness.

The literature review will also focus on establishing the relationship between the nursing leadership and the performances of the workforces. Smith and Kautsch (2009) demonstrated that nursing leadership and management play a crucial role in the creation of the high performing healthcare systems (organizations), by adding entrepreneurialism and managerialist mechanisms in pursuing the accomplishment of the effective patient care. For example, in the United Kingdom, first-class leaders are deployed across various National Health Service (NHS) to steer the implementation of proposed radical change programs. Scully (2014) acknowledges that nursing leadership is essential in the provision of quality care, thus the need for nurturing leaders who can adequately respond to dynamic nursing practices.

The literature review will also explore the relationship between a particular set of personality traits and the molding of an effective nursing leader. According to the Classical Peter Duckers' model of effective leadership, one should not apply coercive approaches on people to exert influence, silence the subject through fear or utilize humiliation tactics to carry out order (Smalskys, Patapas, & Dirzyte, 2013). It follows that effective nurse leaders should possess particular personal qualities which can enhance acceptable professional values in nursing practices.

Self-confidence is one of the personal attributes which is vital in the nurturing of an effective nursing leader. According to Karkada and Cherian (2017), contemporary nursing leadership is characterized by various leaders who are motivated by goals and values or by greed (big egos). Smalskys, Patapas, & Dirzyte (2013) affirmed that some healthcare organizations are likely to hire nurses with psychopathic tendencies based on a particular set of behaviors. Nursing is a dynamic profession which needs confident leaders across various levels. Through the use of performance indicators such as PDCA (Plan, Do, Check & Act) and policies on different areas of health care, it is demonstrated that nurses are exerting a significant influence when it comes to organizational leadership (Karkada & Cherian, 2017).

However, Smith and Kautsch (2009) reiterate that self-confidence personality on nursing leaders can have a detrimental impact on the morale levels of the employees. According to Smalskys, Patapas, & Dirzyte (2013), self-confident leaders are less likely to involve others in the decision-making process, prompting them to use coercion, domination, and manipulation which can cause greater dissatisfaction (Gerhardt, Bono, Judge, & Ilies, 2002) on amongst the staff. Some nursing leaders are also possess destructive personality traits such as egocentricity, callousness, and insensitivity can impact adversely to the overall performances of a healthcare organization (Smith & Kautsch, 2009).

While providing a review on leadership and personality, Gerhardt et al. (2002) presented various features which describe an effective nursing leader. The cognitive ability or Intelligence was identified as a predictor of successful leadership. Brilliant leaders are perceived to be confident, more open to the leadership dynamics and command respect from the team he or she is leading (Smalskys, Patapas, & Dirzyte, 2013). Effective nurse leaders are also required to possess a high level of emotional intelligence. Karkada and Cherian (2017) implied that emotional intelligence allows nurse leaders to acknowledge the importance and power of emotions when it comes to guiding and inspiring the subject. This indicates that nurse leaders should use their emotions to encourage, support, help and influence their staff to perform at high levels.

Statement of Purpose

Nursing is a dynamic and compelling profession which depends on engaging and inspiring role models and leaders (Scully, 2014). There is a need for exploring the impact of one's personality when it comes to the delivery of effective leadership. The primary purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between personal traits (inherent personal values) and effective nursing leadership. With evolving approaches of the current nursing practices, it is imperative to understand the role of leadership when it comes to implementing person-centered care. However, it is revealed that there is limited knowledge of decisive leadership in improving the person-centered culture of care, especially in nursing homes (Marie, 2013). The study will also focus on exploring the nurse manager's perceptions and attitudes related to their styles, knowledge, and skills of leadership in various levels a healthcare organization.

Theoretical framework

The study will be divided into different sections, with each section providing a sequence of logical and conceptual flow of ideas on effective nursing leadership and personality traits. The first section will give an introduction and background information on the research topic: Effect of Personality on Effective Nursing Leadership. The introduction section will include research questions which will act as a guide to ensure the concepts presented are within the scope of the study. The next section will be on research methodology. The study will utilize quantitative nursing methodology by using quantitative data to provide evidence and findings of the research topic. This approach will be suitable in identifying the deep nature of realities as well as revealing the systems of associations between effective nursing leadership and personality. Other sections will comprise of study findings, discussion of results and implications respectively. This theory of framework will be crucial in guiding the study by defining the design of how pieces of research interleave to provide concrete evidence.

Study Hypothesis

Null hypothesis: There is no relationship between effective nursing leadership and one's personality.

The significance of the Research Question to the Knowledge Development

The research question for this study focusses on the investigation of the relationship between effective nursing leadership and personality traits. The study will explore various concepts on how personal attributes influence the nature of nursing leadership adopted in an organization. Smith and Kautsch (2009) reiterated that nursing leadership is a complex and dynamic concept which can be significantly enhanced through researches. This study is also vital to the development of nursing knowledge, especially in nursing leadership and management. The research questions will adequately outline and evaluate the nature of nursing leadership, ultimately forming the basis of nurse leaders to improve their profession in implementing critical changes in nursing practices.

References

Gerhardt, M. W., Bono, J. E., Judge, T. A., & Ilies, R. (2002). Personality and Leadership: A Qualitative and Quantitative Review. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1-15.

Karkada, S., & Cherian, S. (2017). A Review on Leadership in Nursing. International Journal of Nursing Research and Practice, 58-66.

Marie, A. (2013). The role of leadership in the implementation of personcentred care using Dementia Care Mapping: a study in three nursing home. Journal of Nursing Management, 1-3.

Scully, N. J. (2014). Leadership in nursing: The importance ofrecognising inherent values and attributes to secure a positive future for the profession. School of Health, University of New England, 1-6.

Smalskys, V., Patapas, A., & Dirzyte, A. (2013). What Personality Traits Make An Effective Leader? International Journal of Arts and Commerce, 2-7.

Smith, T., & Kautsch, M. (2009). A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis of Effective Nursing Leadership. Polski przeglad Nauk o Zdrowiu, 1-9.

Whitehead, D., Weiss, S., & Tappen, R. (2010). Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management. Philadephia : F. A. Davis Company.