Running Head: ANALYZING A LEADER
Analyzing a Leader or Manager
Mariah Lab
Ferris State University
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Analyzing a Leader or Manager
After researching the nurse manager position and conducting an interview, there
is not an easy answer to the question, “Can anyone be a nurse leader or nurse manager?”.
Initially, the answer was an easy yes. Anyone might be able to become a leader but it
takes a unique and dedicated person to be a successful leader. “Effective nurse leaders
approach decision making and action setting by communicating direction, using
principles to guide the process, and projecting an air of self-assuredness” (Yoder-Wise,
2011, p. 5). Nurse leaders must learn the business side of healthcare while still staying in
tune with the personal part of healthcare. The leader must be able to communicate
effectively with directors, staff, and patients to build trust. Trust gives nursing leaders
the respect and clout to implement decisions. The trust built becomes even more vital
when a lot of the decisions are made on the spot. It allows the leaders to act with
authority and confidence.
Work History
The nursing leader that I decided to interview was Tonie McMaster. McMaster is
the Assistant Director of the Nursing Department at Kellogg Community College (KCC).
McMaster graduated from Kellogg Community College in 2000 with her Associate
Degree of Nursing and worked as a behavioral health nurse and charge nurse. McMaster
had always wanted to become a nurse, but never did she see herself being in a leadership
position. She had always wanted to be a bedside nurse, but as opportunities changed she
became more comfortable with the idea of pursuing a leadership role. McMaster then
graduated from Spring Arbor with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2006 and
worked as a select clinical nurse liaison. McMaster was hired at Kellogg Community
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College for her current position in 2007 and was required to obtain her Masters of
Science in Nursing (MSN). She received her MSN in 2010 from Grand Valley
University. McMaster also received an extra certification called Clinical Nurse Educator
(CNE) and the National League of Nurses (NLN) accredited it. McMaster has to also
stay current with all of the state licensing criteria.
Job Description
McMaster provides daily oversight for Associate Degree Nursing Program with
approximately 400 students during the fall and spring semesters and 128 students each
summer semester. She is responsible for coordinating with full time faculty to arrange
clinical placements for all of the nursing students between approximately 15 clinical
placement facilities. McMaster is also responsible for hiring and providing general
orientation and oversight to the entire adjunct-nursing faculty, approximately 64
individuals. She organizes the adjunct faculty welcome back/orientation sessions, as well
as the new nursing student orientations, both of which occur twice a year. McMaster also
assists in the administration of the nurse aide-training program, which facilitates 42
students each month, at three different campus locations, and four clinical placement
facilities.
McMaster shared that one of her strengths is her ability to communicate well,
problem solve, and her ability to make decision quickly. According to Yoder-Wise 2011,
communication, problem solving, and decision-making skills are very important traits to
have for nurse managers or leaders (p. 99). She listed her weakness as setting
expectations too high for other people and holding them to her own expectations. She is
working on aligning her expectations with others’ ability rather than what she would
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expect them to accomplish.
McMaster explained what she would do at work during a normal day. The first
thing she does when she comes into the office is check her mail, e-mail, and voicemails.
Then she creates folders and subfolders to help organize everything. She normally
addresses urgent needs first and then moves on to working on long term planning.
Staffing is a function of her job that requires the most time. McMaster has found that
keeping things organized and responding to e-mails quickly helps her stay on task. After
she is done with the mail she attends meetings and spends time problem solving,
communicating with students and staff, and looking over future curriculum.
Collaboration
When I asked McMaster about whom she collaborated with she laughed because
McMaster collaborates with almost the whole college. According to Wilson 2013,
leaders that collaborate well with other department are breaking down barriers and also
showing other staff members how to communicate effectively. McMaster collaborates
with the safety and parking officers to inform them when students will be coming and
going from the campus. She coordinates times with the library staff for the students to
learn about library resources. McMaster collaborates with the math and science
departments for curriculum prerequisites. McMasters also collaborates with the testing
department, admissions, financial aid, maintenance, and the registrar’s office. Outside of
the college she collaborates with other hospitals, nurse managers, organizations, and
schools.
Legal or Ethical
Legal and ethical issues should be crucial to all nurses. McMaster stressed that
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ethics and legal issues are very important to Kellogg Community College. Every year the
students get a revised handbook talking about legal and ethical issues and then they have
to sign a contract stating that they understand the handbook. The students have to sign a
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) at every clinical site.
McMaster said that she deals with legal and ethical issues every year. The legal issues do
not happen as often as ethical issues, but when they come across any issues they pull out
the clinical site contract and follow the policies that have been put into place to deal with
the issues. One issue that she has come across is students complaining that all students
are not being taught the same curriculum and that some students are not getting fair
treatment. Another issue that she has dealt with students who were accused of cheating.
She had to investigate the issue and then she followed the KCC policy handbook step by
step.
Power and Influence
“Power is the ability to influence others in an effort to achieve goals” (YoderWise, 2011, p. 176). McMaster encourages employees to motivate students in a positive
manner towards achieving those goals that the school has set. I have seen McMaster
interact with instructors and she empowers her employees to voice their concerns and
opinions in an appropriate manner. According to MacPhee, Skelton-Green, Bouthillette,
& Suryaprakash 2012, effective leadership skills can empower nurses in their daily
practice. McMaster also shared the importance of educating the students about being up
to date on political issues and to be proactive part of nursing. According to Yoder-Wise
2011, students are not aware of public policy and the schools need to do a better job of
educating them (p.177).
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Decision Making, Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution
Since McMaster is the Assistant Director of Nursing she reports to the Director of
Nursing on a regular basis, but if the director is gone then she reports to the Dean of
Nursing with any problems or concerns. All of the adjunct instructors report to
McMaster, and the students voice their concerns to her as well. According to YoderWise 2011, McMaster’s organization follows a matrix service structure, because they use
a bureaucratic structure and a flat structure (p.147). McMaster is always dealing with
quality improvement and updating policies. Throughout the year she keeps notes on
things that might need changed in the handbook. If things are urgent and need to be
changed quickly then it is implemented immediately. Other changes are implemented
during the summer when the committee can sit down and look over policies that need to
be changed. When a new policy is looking at being implemented and subcommittee is
formed to gather research and create a policy. Then the policy is shared with all of the
faculty and the Dean to be approved. Once everyone approves the policy then it is
implemented. McMaster said that she has found that the best way to deal with a conflict
is by gathering all of the information and then confront it promptly and to be straight
forward with the parties involved.
Tonie McMaster is a good leader because she is dedicated to trying her best and
offers encouragement to others that motivates them to do their best. Her compassion for
others comes out through her genuine concern for how people are learning and how they
are being treated. She listens to her instructors, gains their trust, and helps guide them to
make the right decisions when needed. A good leader does not always have to give the
answer, but can let others come to their own conclusions.
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Reference
MacPhee, M., Skelton-Green, J., Bouthillette, F., & Suryaprakash, N. (2012). An
empowerment framework for nursing leadership development: supporting
evidence. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 68(1), 159-169. doi:10.1111/j.13652648.2011.05746.x
Wilson, S. (2013). Collaborative leadership: it's good to talk. British Journal Of
Healthcare Management, 19(7), 335-337. 5, 99,147,176,177
Yoder-Wise, P.S. (2011). Leading and managing in nursing (5th ed., p. 5, 99, 147, 176, &
177). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.
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