Theory of Caring Leadership Essay Example

how the leader can embrace care leadership to bring together all participants in the health sector and enhance their performance. However, we acknowledge the fact that many models and concepts can enlighten our thinking on various measures that leaders can practice mainly in the healthcare environment. The central concept in caring leadership model is to establish a process that will integrate governance and care since nurses, and other healthcare professions affect people's lives at a human level on the daily basis.

Therefore, this means that care leadership model is a set of morals that address the leadership tasks. These morals are associated with intrinsic motivation that we have to work in a sector that is so essential to the well-being of the people that we serve. Caring leadership model should give an answer to the challenge of inspiring the heart. The model should bring together the essential values of the heart of a thoughtful leader. In fact, Faith (2013) states that the model should marry the concepts of good leadership as proposed in leadership theories and at the same time produce the best foundation for growth and progress of the leader.

In nursing, caring leadership model should not be based on the wealth or the influence that the individual has. Nurses act as the central pillar of the healthcare sector and their performance can impact the industry either positively or negatively. To establish a caring leadership model in the healthcare industry, the leader must recognize the role that is played by all healthcare professionals. The leader must develop an integrative process that brings together all healthcare professionals and motivate them to work towards the same direction. The

model must reinstate the goal of healthcare and must also enhance collaboration and good communication among healthcare professionals. The leaders must also note the needs of the healthcare professionals and establish measures for addressing these needs. This will help the leader implement the core value of caring leadership which involves addressing the needs of healthcare professionals to enhance their performance.

Theoretical Models that use Caring Leadership as the Central Model

Several theoretical models have been proposed to improve the concept of caring leadership. However, the two major theories that are embraced in the healthcare sector include the theory of human caring and caring science that was proposed by Dr. Jean Watson and the leadership challenge theory that was proposed by Kouzes and Barry Posner.

Theory of Human Caring and Caring Science

This theory was established by Dr. Watson with a major aim of determining how leaders and their workforce can interrelate to enhance performance. According to Akerjordet and Severinsson (2008), this theory was based on the idea of being heart-centered to increase authentic presence at the time and in the work that one is doing. The ultimate goals of this theory are to establish a process of being and becoming. Over the years, Dr. Watson concept of human kindness and preservation of human dignity has evolved to become a philosophy that has ten improved Caritas Processes.

These processes focus on the principle of being considerate, and this provides nursing professionals with a solid basis through which they carry out their job. Caritas is a Latin word that means to value or appreciate. Caritas nurses operate from a kind and conscious heart, and this allows them to create a healthy environment

that can also be felt by the recipient of the services. Furthermore, this model encourages nurses to focus on processes that develop and sustain authentic caring associations. In other words, this model is all inclusive and at the same time makes healing process an interactive process. Currently, many healthcare facilities have embraced this theory to enhance their performance. Many institutions have adopted the theory of human caring by training their nurses the need of considering the welfare of patients in their nursing processes.

The Leadership Challenge

The second theoretical concept is the leadership challenge. Just like human caring theory, this concept was developed by Kouzes and Posner with a major aim of determining the relationship that should be implemented in caring leadership. It is one of the major theories that medical practitioners embrace to identify the challenges to be addressed to enhance care leadership in the health sector. This theory is founded on the fact that governance is, above all, a connection that is value-based with a foundation of integrity. Five practices of care leadership can be easily understood by nurses and other healthcare professionals. They include establishing the process, having a mutual vision, stimulating the process, helping others to act and inspiring the heart (Williams, McDowell, & Kautz, 2011).

Many nurses use this model as their basis for performance to create a healthy environment for healing of their clients. The most important message that is passed from this theoretical concept is that the mastery of nursing leadership involves understanding the skills that are essential in the development and maintenance of progressive relationships with other healthcare professionals. In concrete terms, Kouzes and Posner, address some of the challenges

that leaders experience when they are encouraging their hearts. This concept has been applied by many leaders in the healthcare sector to enhance caring leadership and address some of the challenges that are seen in health services management.

How These Models are Implemented and Studied in the Organizations

The above models are applied and studied in various organizations to enhance efficiency and performance of healthcare professionals including nurses. Watson’s theory is mainly used in nursing practices that are connected to single cases and in nursing issues that are primarily related to management. In individual cases, many healthcare organizations use Watson theory as the foundational concept that gives the conceptual knowledge that is required to articulate the framework that will be used to view and evaluate the medical problem. Watson theory is also used to determine and formulate the relationship that should exist between healthcare officials and patients in the organization.

For example, this theory helps enhance the concept of caring in nursing practices for patients who are suffering from terminal illnesses. McDowell and Gregory (2013) state that the nutritional support that is mainly exercised in patients who are suffering from terminal diseases such as cancer is a classic example of Watson’s theory in application. Watson theory is also applied to leadership where nursing administrators use Caritas processes to nurse staffs. For example, care attribute helps the administrator to attain the feeling of self-worth and self-confidence and therefore place an importance on the attainment of individual and social needs. It also helps the nurse administrator to prioritize their job and enhance a caring approach.

The leadership challenge is the second theoretical concept that is applied in organizations. The leadership challenge

is embraced when healthcare leaders evaluate the performance of medical practitioners. As stated above, this theory is based on the five principles that include establishing the process, having a mutual vision, stimulating the process, helping others to act and inspiring the heart. The major concepts that are followed in this case include establishing the process and establishing a mutual vision. In many organizations, this is done when health administrators collaborate with other stakeholders to determine what needs to be achieved in a specified period. This is followed by establishing the milestones that will characterize the success of the implementation of the healthcare services in the organization. In many organizations, the culmination of the project is realized when the administrators share their vision with other stakeholders in the organization. According to Ephy and Kyle (2014), many organizations use this model to enhance integrity in their services and to ensure that they fulfill their planned activities.

How Authentic Presence can be shown in a Caring Leadership Model

Authentic presence is a term that means giving a voice to one’s heart. In caring leadership model, authentic presence enables one to speak out with an emotional timbre that replicates the inner being, obligation, and convictions of the person (Larin, Benson, Wessel, Martin, & Ploeg, 2013). It acts as an important concept in healthcare management network because it helps the manager create a bond when he or she leads from the inner heart in his or her communications. There are several ways through which authentic presence can be shown in a caring leadership model. These ways are as discussed below.

• Listening carefully; listening carefully is the first way of showing authentic presence.
  

In this case, the leader listens to get the clarity of purpose whenever he or she enters into a conversation or meeting. This allows the leader to be attentive, open and empathic. Listening carefully shows that the leader is ready to address the needs of the people who are working under him or her (Spear, 2010).

to other healthcare professionals especially in cases that require consultancy.

My Vision in Caring Leadership in the Future

My desire is to serve as a leader in the nursing field in the future. I know that this role will come with major responsibilities that I have to fulfill if I have to become a successful leader. As a leader, I intend to establish an effective model of practice where I will focus on developing and executing a sustainable leadership t system through Caring Leadership Model. The basis for embracing this active model of care will be to establish a shared management structure that will empower every care nurse. I will do this by ensuring that every nurse has a voice in the decision-making processes. Any issue that affects nursing processes will be discussed together to certify that the expectations of every nurse are incorporated in the final decisions. I believe that nursing leaders have many obligations and are held accountable for issues that affect patients and the welfare of the community at large.

As a result, leaders who are operating in the nursing field should always seek to enhance their skills by engaging in training that enhance leadership skills. I intend to embrace the leadership theory that was proposed by Kouzes and Posner to enhance my values and skills as a leader. I intend to create an environment that nurture caring leadership by supporting instructive programs that will help develop nurses who are ready to cooperate with their fellow colleagues on a basis of authenticity and mutual respect. I will also ensure that I observe leadership values as this will allow me to create a positive return in

the score card and at the same time establish a culture shift that produces excellent and sustainable results. I will ensure that my leadership is based on the idea of collaboration between leaders, nurses, and patients. I believe that this idea will help me improve nursing services in the institution and the entire community.

Conclusion

Care leadership is one of the major concepts that have evolved in leadership. As stated above, it is a concept that is based on the idea of acknowledging the needs of other people and establishing measures that will help them work effectively. Nursing is one of the most important segments of healthcare, and there is a need for leaders in this field to enhance care leadership. As stated above, I want to become a good leader in the nursing field in the future. I intend to adopt the measures that have been discussed above and at the same time enhance my authentic presence. I believe that this will help me become a good leader who focuses on the needs of the nurses, other healthcare professionals, patients, and the entire community.

References

• Akerjordet, K., & Severinsson, E. (2008). Emotionally intelligent nurse leadership: A literature review study. Journal of Nursing Management, 16(5), 565-577.
• Ephy, J. M., & Kyle, K. (2014). Integrating Leadership and Management in Nursing Field. Journal of Nurse Educator, 34(5), 104-108.
• Faith, K. E. (2013). The role of values-based leadership in sustaining a culture of caring. Healthcare Management Forum, 26(1), 6-10.
• Larin, H., Benson, G., Wessel, J., Martin, L., & Ploeg, J. (2013). Changes in Emotional-Social Intelligence, Caring, Leadership and Moral Judgment during Health Science Education Programs. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching
  

and Learning, 14(1), 26. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1023556.pdf