In 2005 the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
released their standards for establishing and maintaining healthy
work environments. One of the recommendations they made was for the
development of authentic leaders. The qualities the AACN identified
as being essential to the authentic leader include: genuineness,
trustworthiness, reliability, compassion, and believability.

I totally agree that our leaders should exhibit these qualities, and
that authentic leaders could help to change the nursing environment
into a more nurturing atmosphere for nurses and patients alike. But,
managers can't do this alone; real change will only happen when
nurses become authentic leaders.

As a staff nurse, you are a leader; you lead your peers, you lead
your patients, you lead your institution, and you lead society. So,
the question isn't whether or not you are going to be a leader, it is
simply whether you are going to be a good one!

A healthy work environment isn't just created by administration –
it's created by you. How often have you heard that "nurses eat their
young?" Managers can only do so much in discouraging the practice of
negative thinking and critical leadership by their staff. But, peer
pressure is a powerful tool. When you take on the qualities of an
authentic leader, other staff will be drawn to you and negative and
disruptive work habits will stop (at least in your little part of the
world).

Don't wait for some extraordinary leader to lead us out of the desert
of negativity and self-destruction – it's not going to happen! The
only way nursing is going to be the profession you want it to be is
by taking personal action to stand for what you believe in. I'm not
suggesting going on strike or picketing Washington; I am suggesting
that you start with you. Be the change you want to see happen.

If you want better care for your patients, then make that your
personal mission. Make "provide extraordinary care" your personal
mission statement. Every day when you wake up, write it down.
Remind yourself continuously that "extraordinary care" is what you
are about, and don't let anyone take it away.

There are 2.7 million nurses in the US, and we are the largest group
of employees at any hospital; nurses are a powerful force. Let's use
that power for the good of healthcare. Start with yourself and be a
power of example for your peers. Take on the qualities of
genuineness, trustworthiness, reliability, compassion, and
believability. Make them the basis of your character and you will
become an authentic leader capable of changing lives and the quality
of nursing care.

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over
small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not
you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not
you!" –Jim Rohn

Best wishes,
David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com