Servant of Leadership

The difference between a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) are the type of functions conducted. Both the CNL and CNS provide care in all types of health care settings, including acute, outpatient, home, school and community. For example, CNL is responsible for the delegation and oversight of care delivery by other staff on a daily basis, CNS serves as a mentor to other nursing professionals to advance the practice of nurses and nursing (Home - American Nurse Today, 2014)  

Choose two from each list and discuss the importance of each to nursing administration.  

Communicator, Marquis & Huston (2009, p. 34): We know that communication is the transfer of information between or among people. Within the nursing profession, constant communication is vital between patient, physician, families, co-worker, supervision, administration and other entities framing the patient’s outcome. It is very important that all Healthcare Professionals (every discipline) who is participating in the care of the patient communicate. Many fatal mistakes are being made because of lack of communication such as med-errors, wrong procedure, and incorrect documentation. We must also remember a Regulatory body like Joint Communication is enforcing communication and that everyone who is participating in the care of the patient is equally important. We administration practices good standard of communication, then those who are following displays the same characteristic which produces favorable outcomes.

Advocate, Marquis & Huston (2009, p. 34): It is very important for nurses to understand their role as advocates. This role reaches more than to just the patient. We are also to advocate on the behalf of colleagues and the profession. The responsibilities of the nursing administrator is to work with colleagues and other members of staff to promote safe practice and a safe environment as suggested by the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) (American Nurses' Association, 2010, para. 6). It is important for the administrator to be equipped to successfully support a cause or interest on one’s own behalf or that of another including and not limited to problem solving, communication, influence, and collaboration, these experiences helps to establish a well care being administered and staff stability.

Emphasizes control, decision making, decision analysis and results, Marquis & Huston (2009, p. 33) These qualities are important because the success and commitment to excellence of nurses in an organization speaks highly of the leadership example set by the nursing administrator (American Nurses Association, 2009, p. 5).

Direct willing and unwilling subordinates, Marquis & Huston (2009, p. 33): This is important in the role of administration because the opportunity to develop and become experts within the profession and their roles is contingent on their ability to remedy situations and better direct others to follow or come into compliance with the projected goals (American Nurses Association, 2009, p. 5).