NUR 514 Topic 2 DQ 2 What differentiates servant leadership from other styles of leadership is the primary focus on the follower first
NUR 514 Topic 2 DQ 2 What differentiates servant leadership from other styles of leadership is the primary focus on the follower first
The underlying principle of servant leadership is that leaders address the needs of the team before their own and serve others before serving the self. After reviewing the topic materials and conducting your own research on servant leadership, describe how the vocation of the nurse is similar to the goals of a servant leader. Identify any examples you have seen in your practice, and the best way you can demonstrate servant leadership in nursing practice.
La Shionna,
Re: Topic 2 DQ 2
What differentiates servant leadership from other styles of leadership is the primary focus on the follower first. Most styles of leadership direct their focus first on a mission and second on empowering followers to achieve that mission. Servant leadership directs its focus first on the ability of the individuals to succeed and then on the success of the mission. Servant leaders help their followers to grow and succeed, which in turn aids in accomplishing the organizational mission. The perception of a servant leader should be one of a courageous steward who holds people accountable for their own good. Servant leaders are those individuals who develop and empower others to reach their highest potential. This speaks directly to the individual potential of the followers rather than the organization. Servant leadership assumes that if the followers are maximizing their potential, it will directly translate to the potential of the organization and its overall performance. When servant leadership is applied correctly and with proper intentions, an authentic and natural form of reciprocity takes place between the leader and follower, which in turn increases workforce engagement and improves organizational performance (Gandolfi & Stone, 2018).
Servant leadership includes ten characteristics- listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to growth of people, and building community (Gandolfi & Stone, 2018). Communication begins with listening. A servant leader hears what others are saying through both verbal and nonverbal communication and reflect upon what they hear to lead a group to its full potential. Having empathy or understanding and sharing the feelings of followers allow servant leaders to be placed in a position at the level of those followers. Servant leaders are further able to identify the characteristics hat make each individual unique and provide them with the ability to understand how best to support and lead their followers to achieve success in the mission, in this case how the staff nurses respond to their patients’ needs. While the leaders may not always accept the performance or actions of followers, the leader always accept each follower as an individual.
When the servant nurse leader displays a genuine interest in the team and further support through meeting the needs of the team, the quality of care increases within the organization (Thomas, 2018). Listening and empathy displayed by the servant nurse leader to their patients provides for interprofessional communication as the nurse will include the patient and family to identify the patient needs, make decisions regarding the patient’s care, solve problems together, and evaluate the planned treatment.
As a Nurse Manager, I employed servant leadership especially during the annual employee evaluation process. The employee evaluation process simply stated only evaluates if the individual is meeting the expectations of the organization. It lacks personal development features. I created a format that tasked each nurse to assess areas of strengths and opportunities. Then together we discussed strategies to develop those areas. For example, a nurse with two years of experience felt she was not ‘experienced’ enough to consider growth in the department when viewed alongside nurses with more years of experience. A goal we set together was to attend a preceptor course to then begin first mentoring nursing students and later to precept new hire nurses to the department.
A servant leader is a skilled communicator, a compassionate collaborator, a system thinker, and someone who leads with moral authority. Nursing practice and the vocation of nursing lends itself to the servant leadership model through its dedication of service.
References
Gandolfi, F., Stone, S. (2018). Leadership, Leadership Styles, and Servant Leadership. Journal of Management Research (09725814), 18(4), 261-269. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=132968632&site=eds-live&scope=site
Thomas, J.S. (2018). Applying servant leadership in practice. Nursing Leadership and Management: Leading and Serving. 1, Ch. 3. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs451vn/nursing-leadership-and-mangement-leading-and-serving/v1.1/#/chapter/3
RESPOND TO HERE (150 WORDS, 2 REFERENCES)
CAMILLE
Re: Topic 2 DQ 2
The servant leader in nursing is genuinely compassionate and caring towards employees. This type of leader is inclusive and engaging without being coercive toward personnel (Sherman, 2019). The leader shares governance and responsibilities for the unit and organization. The leader seeks to support staff through empowerment and inspiration. The servant-leader assists employees to resolve problems and supports their professional development. According to Sherman (2019), there are characteristics associated with servant leadership including “listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community” (para. 4). These are all qualities that show caring and consideration to others. Many bedside nurses perform exceptionally for their patients utilizing many of these elements up to and including going up the chain of command to advocate for their patients. In nursing, this is a component of the definition of our work. We are tasked within our capacity to assist our patients in achieving healthful outcomes in a caring and empathetic manner that places each patient at the forefront of all care. We utilize limited resources to maximize our performance for the benefit of our patients. Nurses think ahead and foresee potential dangers to our patients. We are persuasive when necessary to attain the help our patients may need. We are interested in the growth and development of our patients through the hospitalization event and onward. We partner with the patient and others to deliver exceptional care. These qualities are utilized for patients who experience an early postoperative complication but are true for the care delivered to all patients.
References
Sherman, R. (2019). The case for servant leadership. Nurse Leader, 17(2), 86–87.
RESPOND TO HERE (150 WORDS, 2 REFERENCES)
MELISSA
Re: Topic 2 DQ 2
“Who am I serving?”, the most important question asked in both nursing and servant leadership (Munro & Savel, 2017). Nursing is a profession where we are dedicating ourselves to others and prioritize the needs of our community. First and foremost, the nurse is here to serve the patient (Munro & Savel, 2017). Additionally, the nurse serves as a team member who shares a mutual goal of patient-centered care. Often, we find ourselves serving those we work with as well, whether it is answering a call light, helping a nurse with a turn, or going the extra mile to make a family happy.
The primary intention of servant leadership is that the leader is a servant first, assuring that others’ highest priority needs are met (Munro & Savel, 2017). The emphasis of this approach is to nurture and nourish others so they can be the best that they possibly can (Munro & Savel, 2017). Another important idea in servant leadership is the “why?”. This answer may be obvious and straightforward; nurses enter this profession to help others to some extent, and we mustn’t lose sight of that meaning. Nurses facing burnout and compassion fatigue may have served others too frequently without first serving themselves. You can not pour from your own cup if it is empty. It’s also easy to forget the “why?” when facing these feelings.
Burnout is a feeling I’ve encountered and have unfortunately seen a lot of due to the pandemic. I am a school nurse but was recently assisting our district’s COVID resource team. I frequently contacted families in my school district to initiate quarantines and isolations due to positive COVID cases. It seemed as though all I was doing was delivering bad news to families and schools. It was easy to get caught up in the negativity rather than realize that I’m still helping others stay safe and providing resources to do so. It was not how I pictured I would be helping my students and remembering my “why?” is what allowed me to continue serving my community.

NUR 514 Topic 2 DQ 2 What differentiates servant leadership from other styles of leadership is the primary focus on the follower first
Another critical component of servant leadership is humility. A true servant leader is modest, gives recognition where it is due, and creates an environment that others can contribute to. A servant leader recognizes that they are not the only one that has brings something to the table, and facilitates a supportive environment for collaboration.
References:
Savel, R. H., & Munro, C. L. (2017). Servant leadership: The primacy of service. American Journal of Critical Care, 26(2), 97–99. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.4037/ajcc2017356
RESPOND TO HERE (150 WORDS, 2 REFERENCES)
Grading Rubric Guidelines
Performance Category | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
Scholarliness
Demonstrates achievement of scholarly inquiry for professional and academic decisions. |
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Performance Category | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
Application of Course Knowledge –
Demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and/or apply principles and concepts learned in the course lesson and outside readings and relate them to real-life professional situations |
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Performance Category | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Interactive Dialogue
Replies to each graded thread topic posted by the course instructor, by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT, of each week, and posts a minimum of two times in each graded thread, on separate days. (5 points possible per graded thread) |
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Summarizes what was learned from the lesson, readings, and other student posts for the week. |
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Grammar, Syntax, APA
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0 points lost | -5 points lost | ||||
Total Participation Requirements
per discussion thread |
The student answers the threaded discussion question or topic on one day and posts a second response on another day. | The student does not meet the minimum requirement of two postings on two different days | |||
Early Participation Requirement
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