Definitions: Although all nurses are leaders and should practice along the spectrum of leadership (leader, manager, and follower), for both parts of this assignment “leaders” are those in upper or executive nursing management positions, such as directors and chief nursing officers; “managers” are those with a smaller scope of responsibility such as unit managers or supervisors, and nurses who administer programs (trauma, stroke, education, etc.); “followers” are direct care nurses.
Part 1 Directions: Respond to the following questions about leaders and managers. Support your responses with sources that are cited and referenced; you should expect to use a reference for each question in Part 1. At least 1 source should be scholarly (this can be your textbook). Type your response directly below each question. Scholarly language and complete sentences (2-3 per question) are required.
- How are leaders’ and managers’ responsibilities and tasks the same? How are they different? Provide examples.
Response: - How can leaders and managers impact workforce engagement (both positively and negatively)?
Response:
- How can leaders and managers impact the practice environment for staff (both positively and negatively)?
Response:
- How can leaders and managers impact the care environment for patients and families (both positively and negatively)?
Response:
- Choose 1 area of impact discussed above: workforce engagement, practice environment, and patient care. What actions from a follower can provide positive and negative influences on that area?
Response:
Part 2 Directions: Review the six AACN Healthy Work Environment Standards and reflect on how all levels of leadership create and maintain them. Then, type your responses in the table below to address each of the following in your current work area or a previous work area:
- Current state of the standard in your chosen work area (what is it like now?)
- Optimal state of the standard in your area (what should it be like)?
- What should those at each level of leadership (formal leader, manager, and follower) do to support or facilitate the optimal state? If your chosen area is already in the optimal state, what should each level of leadership keep doing to ensure it stays that way?
Be sure to use complete sentences. The table will expand as you type. References are not required for this part of the assignment.
| Healthy Work Environment Standard | Current State | Optimal State | Leader Role in Achieving/Maintaining Optimal State | Manager Role in Achieving/Maintaining Optimal State | Follower Role in Achieving/Maintaining Optimal State |
| Skilled Communication | |||||
| True Collaboration | |||||
| Effective Decision Making | |||||
| Appropriate Staffing | |||||
| Meaningful Recognition | |||||
| Authentic Leadership |
References