In 2005 the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) released their standards for establishing and maintaining healthy work environments. One of the recommendations they made was for the development of authentic leaders. The qualities the AACN identified as being essential to the authentic leader include: genuineness, trustworthiness, reliability, compassion, and believability.
I totally agree that our leaders should exhibit these qualities, and that authentic leaders could help to change the nursing environment into a more nurturing atmosphere for nurses and patients alike. But, managers can't do this alone; real change will only happen when nurses become authentic leaders.
As a staff nurse, you are a leader; you lead your peers, you lead your patients, you lead your institution, and you lead society. So, the question isn't whether or not you are going to be a leader, it is simply whether you are going to be a good one!
A healthy work environment isn't just created by administration – it's created by you. How often have you heard that “nurses eat their young?” Managers can only do so much in discouraging the practice of negative thinking and critical leadership by their staff. But, peer pressure is a powerful tool. When you take on the qualities of an authentic leader, other staff will be drawn to you and negative and disruptive work habits will stop (at least in your little part of the world).
Don't wait for some extraordinary leader to lead us out of the desert of negativity and self-destruction – it's not going to happen! The only way nursing is going to be the profession you want it to be is by taking personal action to stand for what you believe in. I'm not suggesting going on strike or picketing Washington; I am suggesting that you start with you. Be the change you want to see happen.
If you want better care for your patients, then make that your personal mission. Make “provide extraordinary care” your personal mission statement. Every day when you wake up, write it down. Remind yourself continuously that “extraordinary care” is what you are about, and don't let anyone take it away.
There are 2.7 million nurses in the US, and we are the largest group of employees at any hospital; nurses are a powerful force. Let's use that power for the good of healthcare. Start with yourself and be a power of example for your peers. Take on the qualities of genuineness, trustworthiness, reliability, compassion, and believability. Make them the basis of your character and you will become an authentic leader capable of changing lives and the quality of nursing care.
“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you!” –Jim Rohn
Best wishes,
David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.