Thesis
Clinical nurse leadership: a critical ethnography of emancipatory action through transformational leadership education
Southern Cross University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2003
Metrics
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Abstract
The need for clinical leadership is well supported in the literature with the role of the Clinical Nurse Leader, pivotal to successful recruitment and retention, job satisfaction and quality of staff work life. Clinical Nurse Leaders are an integral link between hospital executive, as they interface with healthcare workers to deliver quality patient care. The ever-changing healthcare landscape demands leaders who can help navigate the turbulence of work settings. However, the climate and scope for change in the clinical setting is far more problematic. The Clinical Nurse Leader must be able to demonstrate the application of the appropriate knowledge, skills, values and attributes to meet the specific needs of the healthcare system. The literature reveals the need for education programs to assist the Clinical Nurse Leader, but there is a lack of evidence that these education programs are meeting professional and organisational needs.
The intent of this study was to raise the 'consciousness' of Clinical Nurse Leaders and liberate them from their false consciousness to bring about change through self enlightenment, emancipation and empowerment, through a transformational leadership education program. The education program was developed from a critical social theory approach that acknowledged the socio-political context of the research setting. The clinical leadership education program, with the core content devised on Kouzes and Posner's (1987) behavioural leadership model, supported that leadership is teachable and observable.
Critical ethnography provided the theoretical framework for viewing the world of Clinical Nurse Leaders within their everyday acute care-working environment. Data collection approaches included pre- and post- education program surveys, participant observation, interviews, journaling and an exit survey.
The outcomes of the study highlighted that for Clinical Nurse Leaders the dichotomy of a clinical and leadership role caused dilemmas between the tradition of nursing and care taking, as opposed to the responsibilities and obligations of institutional leadership. The findings revealed that the Clinical Nurse Leaders experiencing enlightenment led to empowerment and emancipation. Emancipatory action occurred for many Clinical Nurse Leaders in changing or adapting their leadership style, to changes to nursing practice and empowerment of their staff. The provision of a Clinical Nurse Leadership education program assisted in the process of enlightenment through self-reflection and theoretical knowledge.
To meet the challenges of today's healthcare Clinical Nurse Leaders require a change of focus from a management to a transformational leadership model of practice. Recommendations from the study highlight the perceived concerns for the Clinical Nurse Leaders, which may provide some insight into the current debate on recruitment and retention of Clinical Nurse Leaders and the development of Clinical Nurse Leaders for today's ever-changing healthcare delivery system. Recommendations have been developed to strengthen the 'voices' of the Clinical Nurse Leaders for change to occur.
Details
- Title
- Clinical nurse leadership: a critical ethnography of emancipatory action through transformational leadership education
- Creators
- Valerie Jean Zielinski
- Contributors
- Bev Joan Taylor (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Theses
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University
- Number of pages
- x, vi, 308
- Identifiers
- 991013322327602368
- Copyright
- © Valerie J. Zielinski 2003
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Resource Type
- Thesis