Leadership vs. Management in the Nursing Context

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The Differences in Roles of Managers and Leaders
Examples
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The definitions of such concepts as nursing leadership and management differ from one author to another because of their interconnectedness and complexity. While some argue that all nursing managers have to have leadership qualities to successfully organize and monitor everyday operations, others state that the roles of managers and leaders may vary (Marquis & Huston, 2017). Nevertheless, the distinction between these two positions exists in literature, which shows that nurses need to understand their responsibilities and qualities to move forward in their career. Nurses without managing authority may show leadership qualities, while others may fail to be leaders of their team even while occupying a higher position.

The Differences in Roles of Managers and Leaders

Nursing managers and leaders can be divided according to the activities they perform in the organization. According to Marquis and Huston (2017), the management process includes controlling and work-related functions such as creating plans, recruiting new employees, or enforcing and maintaining a particular structure. These actions are covered by managers’ duties as professionals, which makes it a specific occupation. Scully (2015) also argues that management is a profession with a focus on systems and structures and not people. A nursing manager has the power given to him/her by appointment – a source of official authority. It is a position that requires specific characteristics as it is a stressful and demanding job (Keys, 2014). Managers help the organization to set and fulfill short-term goals by ensuring that every activity and procedure follows the established order.

On the other hand, a nursing leader does not have to have authority as an employee. This person possesses qualities that encourage others to follow him/her regardless of his/her position in the organization. To be recognized as a leader, a nurse needs to possess a set of specific qualities. While the manager’s attention is devoted to the facility’s structure, nurse leaders highlight the role of people in the organization (Scully, 2015). They inspire others to develop and share progressive ideas, maintain the group’s vision and objectives to be consistent with that of the organization, and show their passion for change to motivate others. These and similar features separate leaders from other workers and highlight them as people who are prepared to take on more responsibilities. Therefore, such qualities may contribute to these individuals becoming effective managers as well. Leaders may be more focused on the organization’s long-term achievements with their holistic outlook.

Examples

In real life, people may not possess the necessary qualities and authoritative power to be both managers and leaders. In my practice, there were several instances where a nurse had performed only one of the two roles. A nurse manager at one of my previous places of work was in constant conflict with other employees because of her attitude towards them. It is possible that she did not possess the essential leadership qualities to motivate her subordinates to work as a team. The lack of communication and feedback affected nurses’ level of comfort with their positions. As Feather, Ebright, and Bakas (2015) note, frequent and friendly interactions may significantly affect nurses’ job satisfaction levels. As a contrast, another employee was receiving support from her peers because of her ability to unite and inspire the team. She was the person who always interacted with her coworkers to collect information about the arising issues and reported the findings to the manager, proposing solutions for change.

Conclusion

Leadership and management are separate concepts that include a set of characteristics, required qualities, and responsibilities. Nurses should understand that leadership qualities are beneficial to their performance because they help improve communication with others and bring new innovative ideas to other’s attention. Managers should also consider their position in regards to leadership and ensure that they do not prioritize organizational systems over people to create a supportive environment.

References

Feather, R. A., Ebright, P., & Bakas, T. (2015). Nurse manager behaviors that RNs perceive to affect their job satisfaction. Nursing Forum, 50(2), 125-136. Web.

Keys, Y. (2014). Looking ahead to our next generation of nurse leaders: Generation X Nurse Managers. Journal of Nursing Management, 22(1), 97–105. Web.

Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2017). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (9th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Scully, N. J. (2015). Leadership in nursing: The importance of recognising inherent values and attributes to secure a positive future for the profession. Collegian, 22(4), 439-444. Web.

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Leadership vs. Management in the Nursing Context

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