Emotionally Intelligent Nurse Leader

349 Pages·2004·2.714 MB·English

by  Mae Taylor Moss

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the emotionally
intelligent nurse
leader
Mae Taylor Moss
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the emotionally intelligent
nurse leader
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the emotionally
intelligent nurse
leader
Mae Taylor Moss
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Copyright © 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by Jossey-Bass
A Wiley Imprint
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
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Copyright ©2002, Multi-Health Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. In the USA, P.O. Box
950, North Tonawanda, NY 14120-0950, 1-800-456-3003. In Canada, 3770 Victoria
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Moss, Mae Taylor.
The emotionally intelligent nurse leader / Mae Taylor Moss.—1st ed.
p.; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0–7879–5988–X (alk. paper)
1. Nursing services—Administration. 2. Leadership. 3. Emotional intelligence.
4. Nurses—Psychology. 5. Nurse and patient. I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Nursing, Supervisory. 2. Emotions. 3. Leadership. 4. Nursing
Staff—psychology. 5. Patients—psychology. WY 105 M913e 2005]
RT89.M635 2005
362.17'3'068—dc22
2004014530
Printed in the United States of America
FIRSTEDITION
PB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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contents
Preface ix
About the Author xi
Introduction xiii
PART ONE
Understanding Emotional Intelligence
1. An Age-Old, New Kind of Nursing Intelligence 3
2. Emotions in a Techno-Illogical Age 20
3. Emotional Intelligence and Leadership 42
PART TWO
Intelligently Creating, Sharing a Vision, and Setting an Example
4. Leaders Who Create 69
5. Leaders Who Share a Vision 93
6. Leaders Who Set an Example 119
PART THREE
Intelligent Transfer of Information
7. Downloading: Honing Emotional Intelligence 141
8. Uploading: Coaching Emotional Intelligence 163
9. Weathering a Crash: Conflict Resolution in the
Health Care Environment 184
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viii contents
PART FOUR
Changing the Culture of Nursing and the Organization
10. Shaping the Work Environment and Culture 215
11. Rebuilding and Upending the Hierarchical Pyramid 238
12. The Future of Emotional Intelligence for Nursing Leadership 262
References 279
Name Index 299
Subject Index 307
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preface
“KNOW THYSELF” and “To thine own self be true,” aphorisms taken
from classic literary works and passed down through many generations
as standard wisdom, remain popular even today. Centuries ago, when
Socrates and Shakespeare penned those now-immortal words, they prob-
ably did not know that they were glimpsing a broader, more exact
science—that of emotional intelligence. Today, emotional intelligence has
blossomed from studies in social behavior to a measurable, predictable
pattern of thought and action that influences decision making and success
in relationships. References to feelings, emotions, and interpersonal skills
abound in management literature, pointing out the relevance of emotional
aptitude in our day. The ability to know and understand oneself, as well
as to practice integrity in handling one’s emotions, is fundamental to emo-
tional expertise.
So relevant is emotional intelligence to leadership that multiple books
have been written on the topic. However, nursing leadership presents a
special situation: a field in which emotions are inherent in frontline work,
leading to a decision structure in which conflicts and ethical dilemmas
occur almost daily, and a rapid technological boom and increased finan-
cial emphasis that have stripped away the time allowed for pleasant,
leisurely conversations.
This book was written to equip the nurse leader with emotional prin-
ciples for leadership in the twenty-first century. Nurse leaders are respon-
sible not only for patient outcomes but also for the success of those under
their leadership. Because nurse leaders lead staff members who deal with
the emotional issues of patient care, they also deal with the end result of
all of these emotional issues: stress, the need to reflect, the need to be val-
ued, and the need to grow emotionally. In the midst of this leadership
challenge, nurse leaders themselves need to grow emotionally, supporting
themselves and those around them in healthy, constructive ways.
Over the years, my experience as a staff nurse, educator, leader, and
administrator have presented me with specific challenges, all of which pre-
sented profoundly emotional themes. There is no doubt that nursing is
one of the most emotionally charged professions of our day or that it will
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