NURSE LEADERS ARE ESSENTIAL Discussion 5
NURSE LEADERS ARE ESSENTIAL for promoting healthy work environments in which the needs of both the healthcare staff and their patients are understood, respected, and sup- ported. These professionals lead with grace, insight, optimism for the future of healthcare, and appreciation for their staff and the chal- lenges facing individual nurses. In today’s healthcare environment, nurses need leaders who are gracious. Following input from unit nurses at the authors’ facility, this article discusses the attributes of a gracious nurse leader with the GRACIOUS mnemonic.
BY EdD, RN;, BSN, RN; AND, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Showing the way with gracious leadership
New Horizons
Abstract: Like servant leaders, gracious leaders prioritize employee relationships in a way that also promotes optimal outcomes for both the patients and the healthcare organization. This article provides a mnemonic to describe the attributes of a gracious nurse leader.
Keywords: gracious leadership, leadership, nurse leader, servant leadership
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-STUDY NOTES-
Nurse leaders play a critical role in creating and maintaining healthy work environments in healthcare settings. They are responsible for ensuring that the needs of both healthcare staff and patients are understood, respected, and supported. Nurse leaders possess a unique combination of skills and attributes that enable them to lead with grace, insight, and optimism for the future of healthcare.
One way to describe the attributes of a gracious nurse leader is by using the GRACIOUS mnemonic. The letters of the mnemonic stand for the following attributes:
G – Generosity: Gracious nurse leaders are generous with their time, resources, and support. They actively listen to and support their staff, and are willing to share their knowledge and experience.
R – Respect: Gracious nurse leaders show respect for their staff, patients, and colleagues. They are non-judgmental, open-minded, and willing to consider different perspectives.
A – Authenticity: Gracious nurse leaders are authentic and transparent. They are true to themselves and their beliefs, and they lead by example.
C – Empathy: Gracious nurse leaders possess empathy and understanding of the struggles and issues faced by their staff, patients and colleagues.
I – Inclusivity: Gracious nurse leaders strive for inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. They work to create a welcoming and diverse work environment, in which everyone is valued and respected.
O – Support: Gracious nurse leaders provide support to their staff and colleagues. They are available to listen, provide guidance and problem-solve together.
U – Self-awareness: Gracious nurse leaders are self-aware, they understand themselves and the impact of their actions, and they continuously strive to improve their leadership skills.
S – Service: Gracious nurse leaders put the needs of their staff and patients first, and are committed to providing excellent patient care and promoting the best outcomes.
The authors of the article suggest that by prioritizing employee relationships in a way that also promotes optimal outcomes for both the patients and the healthcare organization, the gracious nurse leader model aligns with the concept of servant leadership, which prioritizes the needs of the people being led and focuses on serving them in an effective and efficient manner.
Nurse leaders are essential for promoting healthy work environments in which the needs of both the healthcare staff and their patients are understood, respected, and supported. They lead with grace, insight, optimism for the future of healthcare, and appreciation for their staff and the challenges facing individual nurses. The GRACIOUS mnemonic is a useful tool for describing the attributes of a gracious nurse leader, who focuses on employee relationships in a way that also promotes optimal outcomes for both patients and the healthcare organization.
