Essay On Servant Leadership In Nursing

Servant Leadership Incorporated in Nursing Practice

The society, ever changing, has pushed clinical practice to transform from a traditional for profit organization to a more patient-centered culture. Nursing education has also evolved, alongside of society, from a teaching- orientated practice to a learning-orientated one, focusing on critical thinking, problem solving abilities, and the capacity to lead through evidence based practice. The integration of servant leadership principles in practice has resulted in not only meeting the needs of individuals, but also adopting the use of shared governance to better the nursing profession.

Servant Leadership Characteristics

The servant leader is servant first. Those who aspire to serve the people,

379). Trastek (2014) states, that through self-reflection and awareness, a leader is able to understand their purpose, beliefs, and characteristics which are guided by their core ethical and moral values (p. 379). A nurse must be aware of who they are in their role as patient advocate and not push their values onto others. The ability to separate one’s feelings from issues concerning the patient’s, is a skill that any leader must master. Awareness also aids those to understand issues involving ethics, power, and beliefs (Spears, 2010, p. 28). It provides nurses with the foresight to prevent future complications, ensure probable outcomes, and recognize those who need to be involved in patient

It is with parents, teachers, and other leaders before us that we are molded and fine-tuned to better envision our future. As nursing students we begin school with insecurities that can be exacerbated by the unfamiliar world of nursing and health care. According to Robinson (2009), faculty have the power to influence and provide opportunities to create an environment for discussions of errors and allow the analysis of the causes and creation of plans to avoid future mistakes” (p. 5). This type of servant teacher leadership can lead a student to achieve personal and professional growth and promotes student success. Robinson (2009) goes on to say that, it is with those faculty who listen and respond to students, who demonstrate skills of listening and empathy, in which students emulate and carry with them in professional practice (p. 6). I have always had that drive for continuous improvement, not only for myself but for others as well. The health care profession is a humble experience and a test of character. Throughout nursing school and our assigned clinicals, I’ve realized that while working in health care can be very difficult, especially in trying situations, one must also consider the community around you and the support they possess. These types of experiences slowly seep into your being and slowly change the way you think and make you consider your