Image from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jarretjackson/2020/08/05/do-you-have-a-leadership-strategy/

What did you learn from this interview about leadership in nursing? How would you rate the quality of their self- awareness/management vs their social-awareness and management? What surprised you? What responses reinforced your knowledge? How did this interview influence your feelings about this leader? How will you apply this new knowledge in your student future and nursing career?

After interviewing the cardiothoracic nurse, it reinforced my belief that leadership requires lots of patience, empathy, determination, and trust. I’d say she has an exceptional quality of self-awareness and social awareness. She understands how her actions can either make or break others. For example, when she manages conflicts, she likes to do so in private. She hears both sides of the stories separately and sees where the discrepancies are to repair it. When she does manage conflict, she says she goes about it in a non-judgmental, calm manner.

I asked her how she deals with ethical issues, and she mentioned there are healthcare ethics committees that take on moral issues. A topic that reinforced my knowledge is the new ethical concern surrounding physician-assisted suicide. She said how Maine is among the few states that allow it. I was surprised to hear she encountered someone that inquired about it.

According to her, it’s been recently hard to maintain her work and life balance. She doesn’t have much time to herself, but she manages to go to the gym, talk with friends, and go on walks. This interview solidified my feelings about this leader because of the positive mindset and coping methods. I plan to carry forward the humility, patience, empathy, conflict resolution technique this leader possesses.