Barriers to Effective Nurse Leadership
Nurse leaders serve in different positions in healthcare institutions. These include clinical nurse leaders, executive nurse leaders, mid-manager level leaders, research leaders, academic leaders, informal leaders, or various institutional boards. The organizational culture of the institutions where nurse leaders work plays a vital role in influence their effectiveness of ineffectiveness. Sadly, many cultural practices do not offer nurse leaders support and entail a lot of barriers that make the nurse feel powerless and unmotivated.
First, many organizations do not recognize nurses as important decision-makers or revenue generators (Denker, Medina, & Yore, 2014). This prevents nurses from being chose for influential leadership roles, and when selected, their input isconstantly sidelined. This makes them feel powerless, and as though their roles are unnecessary. Second, nurses are mostly invisible while making healthcare policies. Nurse leaders trying to advocate for the inclusion of their workforce and profession are primarily unseen by organizational policymakers and even externally by the media and political community. They may, therefore, powerless and be discouraged from accomplishing their roles as leaders.
Third, an organization that does not require or encourage unity among nurses creates a problematic environment for nurse leaders. The leaders may be unable to insert their influence or enact policies in the workplace as the nurses do not recognize their role or are opposed to being led by a person in authority. Fourth, some healthcare organizations train their workers for leadership positions but neglect nurses (Denker, Medina, & Yore, 2014). Therefore, nurse leaders who are selected lack some essential leadership skills, which may make it difficult for them to work and make them feel powerless. Lastly, an organization that has not cultivated effective communication as part of its culture makes it hard for nurse leaders to achieve their goals. Their subordinates, colleagues, and seniors may choose not to pay attention, making them feel powerless.
Reference
Denker, A.-L., Medina, P., & Yore, M. (2014). ADDRESSING BARRIERS IN LEADERSHIP FOR NURSES. Florida Center for Nursing.