Why Nurses Are Reluctant to Be Leaders
When you are up for promotion or you are given the task to be in-charge of the nursing station, you feel that you do not have the capability to handle it.
Many registered nurses and caregivers quake at the thought that they will lead.
It can be both frightening and nerve wracking for most of them.
Here are some of the reasons why nurses are sometimes reluctant leaders: 1.
Fear of Failure I think that it is human nature to fear failure.
It is inculcated in us during our young lives that making a mistake is simply not an option.
This can be carried over until a person becomes an adult.
Hence, we are plagued with insecurity as well as the fear of making mistakes.
As nurses, this may also be obvious because there would be many excuses that they can make why they cannot handle the big role of a nurse supervisor.
2.
Inexperience in Decision Making When we make decisions, it can be a difficult task.
Same is true with nurses; they are faced with day to day decisions that they have to do that involve the lives of patients.
That is why they are afraid that when they are tasked to be in-charge they make a wrong decision and thereby not be an effective leader.
This is still a chain reaction with the fear of failure.
3.
Inability to Handle Conflict Since nurses would prefer to keep the peace, many of them would rather not handle or face conflicts.
However, as a leader one has to face conflicts day in day out.
There would be arguments and problems that have to be resolved whether we like it or not.
Conflict can be a difficult situation whatever is the environment.
It can be doubled when it involves patients, doctors and colleagues as well as subordinates.
4.
Unwilling to Leave the Comfort Zone As nurses we develop certain routines and habits.
The mere fact that this will be disrupted if we become leaders can be a cause for stress.
Comfort zones are part of a person's life.
We tend to stay in a place where we feel most comfortable in.
We do not take risks as much as possible because we know that risks can sometimes constitute to failure.
As nurses we should expect our roles to expand.
One of the roles that we are expected to fill is that of being a leader.
Many registered nurses and caregivers quake at the thought that they will lead.
It can be both frightening and nerve wracking for most of them.
Here are some of the reasons why nurses are sometimes reluctant leaders: 1.
Fear of Failure I think that it is human nature to fear failure.
It is inculcated in us during our young lives that making a mistake is simply not an option.
This can be carried over until a person becomes an adult.
Hence, we are plagued with insecurity as well as the fear of making mistakes.
As nurses, this may also be obvious because there would be many excuses that they can make why they cannot handle the big role of a nurse supervisor.
2.
Inexperience in Decision Making When we make decisions, it can be a difficult task.
Same is true with nurses; they are faced with day to day decisions that they have to do that involve the lives of patients.
That is why they are afraid that when they are tasked to be in-charge they make a wrong decision and thereby not be an effective leader.
This is still a chain reaction with the fear of failure.
3.
Inability to Handle Conflict Since nurses would prefer to keep the peace, many of them would rather not handle or face conflicts.
However, as a leader one has to face conflicts day in day out.
There would be arguments and problems that have to be resolved whether we like it or not.
Conflict can be a difficult situation whatever is the environment.
It can be doubled when it involves patients, doctors and colleagues as well as subordinates.
4.
Unwilling to Leave the Comfort Zone As nurses we develop certain routines and habits.
The mere fact that this will be disrupted if we become leaders can be a cause for stress.
Comfort zones are part of a person's life.
We tend to stay in a place where we feel most comfortable in.
We do not take risks as much as possible because we know that risks can sometimes constitute to failure.
As nurses we should expect our roles to expand.
One of the roles that we are expected to fill is that of being a leader.
