Healthcare leadership and management in nursing demand a high level of knowledge and skill. Although nursing leadership and nurse management share some characteristics, they also have some key differences. The differences between a nursing leader and a nurse manager include the roles they assume, the qualifications they hold, and the duties they carry out. This article describes nurse leadership and management responsibilities, highlights their key distinctions, and discusses the traits of effective nursing leaders and managers.
What are management and leadership in nursing?
Nursing leadership and management are related to the responsibilities of nursing professionals who manage nursing staff that provide patient care, direct nursing employees, and control the organizational structure of medical operations. Many nurses assume informal leadership positions throughout their careers, although there are certain variations between nurse leaders and nurse managers.
Nursing leadership
Leading initiatives to enhance nursing practices and results is the practice of nurse leadership. Nursing teams and staff development of best practices and patient care approaches depend on nurse leaders’ capacity to inspire and motivate them. These individuals typically hold higher-level nursing and leadership positions and approach nursing less directly than nursing managers.
For instance, a nurse manager will concentrate on carrying out the initiative and managing nursing teams and departments in implementing care strategies with patients. A nurse leader is in charge of overseeing and implementing new care policies and will focus on strategic planning and working with the nursing staff.
Nurse management
The process of guiding groups and nursing departments to uphold the best standards and structure while providing patient care is known as nurse management. Nurse Managers instruct the nursing staff to use practical methods to ensure the effectiveness of patient care and treatment programs. Nurse Managers also oversee the daily operations and routines of the medical facility in which they operate.
Nurse Managers are in charge of hiring, staffing, and performance evaluations for their teams. Although nurse managers continue to engage closely with patients and nursing teams to implement the incentives that nursing leaders introduce, nursing management responsibilities depend on leadership skills.
Difference between leadership and management in nursing
The duties they carry out at work, the positions they play in their organizations, the qualifications they hold, and the educational paths they have taken are different for nurse leaders and nurse managers. The following career aspects best illustrate the differences between leadership roles and management functions in nursing:
- Tasks
- Roles
- Education
- Credentials
Tasks
Nurse Managers and nurse leaders typically have different duties and responsibilities. For instance, nurse leaders influence nursing teams and employees, start transformation and change in the medical environment, and define practice standards and rules. Ultimately, nurse leaders strive to achieve an organization’s vision, mission, and long-term goals.
Nurse Managers frequently have direct contact with patients as they endeavor to lead and train their teams and departments. Many nurse managers are in charge of leading and supervising other nurses while they execute patient procedures, provide care, and keep records.
Roles
Throughout their careers, nurse leaders and managers take on various responsibilities based on their expertise and credentials. Nurse leaders carry out leadership responsibilities within a medical organization, driving department, and facility improvements, creating novel approaches to improve patient care, and setting the standard for how their organizations achieve goals and adhere to core values.
The primary responsibility of a nurse manager within a medical institution is to oversee the processes of patient care, treatment plans, procedures, and nursing practices. Nurse management may take on leadership roles during their career. The nurse manager’s primary responsibilities include managing nursing teams and overseeing important nursing procedures, including reporting and recordkeeping.
Education
Nursing leadership and management roles can require different educational backgrounds. For instance, a nurse management position like a patient care director may need different educational preparation than a nursing leadership position like a clinical nurse leader (CNL). They frequently switch between majors, disciplines, and classes while in college.
Credentials
While nursing leadership and management roles require nursing certification and credentials, nurse managers are frequently required to hold the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) credential. Leadership roles are frequently defined through the Certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) credential.
For instance, nursing executives can hold executive-level and administrative positions within a healthcare institution with the Certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) certificate. On the other hand, a nurse manager who has earned the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) certification would collaborate closely with the nursing team to plan and oversee patient care and treatment, directly affecting and controlling outcomes.
What qualities are essential for effective leadership and management in nursing?
Despite considerable differences, leadership management and team working in nursing share several skill sets, including the following:
- Leadership skills
- Teamwork skills
- Technical skills
- Communication skills
- Emotional intelligence
Leadership skills
Leadership skills are necessary for both management and team working in nursing. Leadership skills are possessed by nurses who take on supervisory responsibilities to manage their teams and uphold organizational structure in their practices. Examples of how nursing leaders and managers use their leadership skills include the capacity to inspire team members, enhance nursing procedures, and create efficient treatment plans.
Teamwork skills
In their professions, nurse managers and leaders interact with various healthcare professionals. As a result, both roles rely on the ability to work collaboratively, provide and accept feedback, and exchange ideas with coworkers and superiors. Teamwork skills are essential for navigating organizational cultures and fostering positive working relationships in many fields.
Technical skills
Working in a nurse leadership or management capacity requires technical skills, including computer and database literacy. Nurses in managerial positions frequently record, categorize, and arrange crucial medical data using business databases and reporting tools. Technical expertise in nursing leadership and management can be very helpful to thrive in these career domains because several administrative and executive nursing roles (like clinical informatics management) demand nurses to work with this type of technology regularly.
Communication skills
A good communicator is a nurse. They interact with patients and healthcare professionals daily, using good communication techniques to do their jobs well. As a result, nurse leaders and managers need to be adept at verbal, nonverbal, and written communication as well as have the capacity to connect with others and establish relationships.
Emotional intelligence
Nurses in leadership positions rely on their emotional intelligence to communicate with their patients and coworkers. Nursing leaders and nurse managers should have strong emotional intelligence and be able to care for patients, comprehend the thoughts and feelings of others, and seek understanding in their professional interactions.
5 Nursing Leadership Types to Know
Nursing managers and leaders have a variety of leadership philosophies to select from. Some styles are more successful than others, so think about which will work best for your team. You must be extremely careful not to let your ego or insecurities come in the way of being a successful manager or leader.
Nurse Managers and leaders should understand that each team member contributes to the whole’s success, and they should adopt a management style that inspires the team and advances the company’s mission. The following five nursing leadership philosophies were identified by the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination (AANAC):
- Servant leaders- By emphasizing developing and honing each person’s skills, they may inspire and drive their team.
- Transformational leaders ensure that team members know the organization’s broader vision and objective.
- Democratic leaders promote open dialogue and cooperation. Instead of focusing on the skills of certain people, they aim to improve the system.
- Authoritarian leaders make judgments without consulting the team and discipline them when they are wrong.
- Laissez-faire leaders provide minimal oversight to team members and address problems at the last time.
Bottom line
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