Frequently Asked Questions
Chapter 24: Leadership, Delegation, and Collaboration

What are the factors that currently influence nursing leadership?

The factors that currently influence nursing leadership are continually shrinking reimbursement; growing sophistication in clinical technology; and an increasing militancy among physicians, payers, and clients.

What are the essential functions of effective managers?

The essential functions of effective managers include planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and decision making.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic, consultative, democratic, and laissez-faire leadership styles?

The autocratic leadership style produces high productivity and is useful in crisis situations; but it inhibits creativity, inhibits follower autonomy, promotes mistrust among followers, and promotes hostility or passivity among followers. Consultative leadership allows followers greater understanding of a decision, but may require great effort by the leader. Democratic leadership empowers team members, facilitates communication, and increases creativity and autonomy; but it is time-consuming, less efficient, and prone to disagreement among team leaders. Laissez-faire leadership promotes autonomy and creativity in followers, but may evoke possibility, aimless behavior, chaos, inefficiency, and low productivity.

What are some principles for delegating client care?

When delegating client care, the nurse should assess overall client assignments and match them with individual staff abilities, obtain staff input about assignments, be able to adjust client assignments, advise staff to ask for assistance and keep the leader informed, show sensitivity to others and offer them support, and seek out ways to increase the number of decision choices and options.

What is the difference between direct expenses and indirect expenses?

Direct expenses are directly attributable to the department, including both labor and non-labor components (for example, supplies, salaries, and medications). Indirect expenses are costs allocated from the operation of the larger organization to the various service units, such as information systems, administration, billing, housekeeping, and maintenance.

What are the critical elements of self-awareness?

The critical elements of self-awareness are effective communication, empathy, balance in personal and professional lives, and a positive attitude.