Difference Between Nurse Leaders and Nurse Managers - Essay Example

Leaders and Managers agree There exists a difference between nurse leaders and nurse managers despite the fact that many people fail to identify the same indeed. Whereas nursing management has the fundamental role in determining the operations of a nursing institution such as recruitment of new nurses, their retention, and well-being (Wesstphal, 2012). Ideally, such a role involves the management of the whole organization. A nursing leader on his part has the role of influencing changes in an organization, especially in a particular unit or area of specialization, towards obtaining the desired results.

In clinical settings, there exist different examples of nursing leaders and managers in their manner of operation. Nursing managers remain responsible for chairing of organizational meetings and determining the organizational projects, nursing leaders on their part work to determine the particular participation of unit nurses in particular organizational projects. Based on such a perspective, it is possible a nursing manager also becomes a nursing leader at the same time. As such, a clinical manager would as well step in to work as an in charge nurse and perform the necessary roles associated with a nursing leader such as the application of fairness in dealings with people.

In most instances, nursing leaders lack management position but still perform to the satisfaction of the concerned parties in a similar manner of a nursing manager. Such roles include assigning of nurses on different roles and responsibilities depending on an individual’s ability to complete such tasks. On a similar perspective, it is possible that a nursing manager becomes a leader. As such, the nursing leaders would be in a position to influence control over other nurses such as giving them directions (Finkelman, 2012).

Additionally, a nursing leader must not be in a management position in order to perform effectively. Generally, all nurses need to be leaders by default, with appropriate qualities of effective performance.ReferencesFinkelman, A. W. (2012). Leadership and Management for Nurses: Core Competencies for Quality Care. (2nded) Upper Saddle River, NJ Pearson Education, Inc.Wesstphal, J. A. (2012). Characteristics of nurse leaders in hospitals in the USA from 1992 to 2008. Journal Of Nursing Management, 20(7), 928-937.