Nursing Leadership: Difference between a leader and a boss
The power of Nursing Leadership: Difference between a leader and a boss The buzz word these days seems to be “I am a BOSS” as well as other catchy phrases as it relates to being in charge, autonomous, independent and the like thereof. I wanted to delve a bit deeper into the word Boss and how it does not make you a leader. As I was researching the word boss and leader, I came across these definitions from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Boss- a person who exercises control or authority union bosses a mafia boss; specifically: one who directs or supervises workers. Leader- a person who leads: such as a guide and/or conductor. A person who directs a military force or unit leaders of the army. A person who has commanding authority or influence.
What stood out as a difference were the words influence, lead, guide to describe leader while a boss used words like control, authority, direct and supervise. I have 22 years of leadership experience of being a leader in the Army. The Army has afforded me the opportunity as a very junior Soldier to be placed in leadership positions above my grade level. Years later becoming a nurse, I’ve gained experience to be a nursing leader through developing both my bedside and administrative skills. I have been stationed in remote areas of the world where I was the only public health nurse and had the privilege to serve as the Garrison health consultant and be instrumental as a site surveyor in the grand opening of the child development center in Daegu, Korea. The military has taught me about peer leadership and how to successfully earn respect based on character and not just position. The military has helped me to strive to be a compassionate, hardworking and strong nurse whether it’s in the Medical surgical department, pediatric unit or disaster preparedness for family and servicemembers who staged in South Korea from the Japan Tsunami of 2011. Leadership is not defined by title, rank, degree or stature. It is born and bred and exists within. It is a desire. It is advocating and taking care of others. It’s acknowledging weakness as well as strength. It is the empowered, empowering others to be leaders. I’ve been fortunate to attend leadership courses that helped hone and define my leadership skills. Leadership has taught me that one should never compromise their moral compass to get to the top but should always carry themselves with honesty and integrity. The late Dwight.D.Eisenhower, 34th President of United States, once said, “The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity.
When discussing Nursing Leadership, it is safe to say that it is the driving force in advocating and delivering the quality of care and the patient care outcome that is essential in today’s complex healthcare system. It is my belief that from the moment you become a nurse, you become a leader. From the bedside, to the administrative role, you are a leader. As nurses, we have to take on the role of a leader, be that change agent who will leave a legacy that influences not only our healthcare system, but the next generation of nurses. The profession of nursing must find a way to afford opportunities to the most exceptional individuals, even if their journey of success was not like their own. This is an act of selfless service, to be able to embrace the entire young professional nurse in an effort to produce the greatest outcome.
I want to share with you six leadership nuggets that have guided my everyday actions and have influenced my approach to nursing:
1. Always display integrity and allow no one, no organization to get in the way of that.
2. Loyalty to yourself, your organization, colleagues and those entrusted in your care.
3. Compassion- Its ok to be firm, fair and assertive but do not lose sight of extending compassion.
4. Professionalism- Nursing is a profession, act accordingly.
5. Always put yourself in position to learn new things-Continued education is key to future success.
6. Never forget your Why.
Dr. Estacy Porter is a wife, mother of 4 kids and a retired Army Nurse Captain of over 22 years with her last job as Chief of Preventive Medicine Department. She is a Board Certified Advance Public Health Nurse and licensed Nurse Practitioner in Community Health. Dr. Porter is the founder and CEO of Jewel in His Eyes, a Holistic Health Empowerment program for girls and women to live and be the healthiest version of themselves as well as founder of Garifuna Nurses United, is a membership-based organization with a mission to gather Garifuna Nurses from across the diaspora together to foster a positive environment of growth, professional development and address health disparities amongst the Garifuna people. Her Doctoral Project focused on developing an executive level leadership and mentorship toolkit for Army Public Health Nurses.
