A nurse administrator who involves other nurses in decision-making is an example of?

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg Entrance-2017

Explanation

Democratic leadership, also called participative leadership, is defined by the leader involving subordinates in the decision-making process.
This style encourages seeking input, opinions, and suggestions from team members to make quality decisions.
It focuses on cooperation and building strong partnerships, making the nursing staff feel included and valued.
The key characteristic is the decentralization of decision-making, which directly matches the scenario described.

Option A: Laissez-faire leadership involves the leader providing little to no direction or oversight. The team makes decisions on their own, which is different from the leader actively involving them.
Option B: Authoritarian leadership is the opposite of the style described. The leader makes all decisions independently without consulting the team.
Option D: Autocratic leadership is another term for authoritarian leadership. The leader holds all the power and makes decisions unilaterally.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Leadership Styles in Nursing Management helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A democratic leadership style on a nursing unit is linked to higher staff morale, lower turnover rates, and increased commitment to organizational goals.
By involving nurses in decisions about patient care processes and unit policies, nurse leaders can improve the quality of care and patient safety, as frontline staff often have valuable insights.
This style fosters professional development by empowering nurses to develop their own leadership and critical-thinking skills.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key action in the question stem: 'involves other nurses in decision-making'.
Next, recall the definitions of the main leadership styles provided in the options.
Match the key action to its corresponding leadership style. 'Involving others' is the hallmark of democratic or participative leadership.
Eliminate the other options. Authoritarian/Autocratic styles involve the leader making decisions alone. Laissez-faire involves the leader stepping back and letting the group decide without involvement.
Confirm your choice. The scenario perfectly describes the collaborative nature of democratic leadership.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart B (pp 328-654 of 982) p. 165-167

E6 Nursing_Management_and_leadership_Johny_Kutty_JosephCbs_Publishers (pp 16-364 of 374) p. 157-159

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg Entrance-2017

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.