Nina Elisabeth Blegen1, Elisabeth Severinsson. 1. Centre for Women's, Family and Child Health, Vestfold University College, Tønsberg, University of Stavanger, Norway. nina.blegen@hive.no
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mental health nurses are agents of change, and their leadership, management role and characteristics exist at many levels in health care. Previous research presents a picture of mental health nurses as subordinate and passive recipients of the leader's influence and regard leadership and management as distinct from the nurses' practical work. AIM: The aim was to provide a synthesis of the studies conducted and to discuss the relationship between nursing leadership and nursing management in the context of mental health nursing. METHOD: A literature search was conducted using EBSCO-host, Academic Search Premier, Science Direct, CINAHL and PubMed for the period January 1995-July 2010. RESULTS: Leadership and management in the context of mental health nursing are human activities that imply entering into mutual relationships. CONCLUSION: Mental health nurses' leadership, management and transformational leadership are positively related in terms of effectiveness and nurses' skills. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: It is important to consider mental health nurses' management as a form of leadership similar to or as a natural consequence of transformational leadership (TL) and that ethical concerns must be constantly prioritized throughout every level of the organization.
BACKGROUND: Mental health nurses are agents of change, and their leadership, management role and characteristics exist at many levels in health care. Previous research presents a picture of mental health nurses as subordinate and passive recipients of the leader's influence and regard leadership and management as distinct from the nurses' practical work. AIM: The aim was to provide a synthesis of the studies conducted and to discuss the relationship between nursing leadership and nursing management in the context of mental health nursing. METHOD: A literature search was conducted using EBSCO-host, Academic Search Premier, Science Direct, CINAHL and PubMed for the period January 1995-July 2010. RESULTS: Leadership and management in the context of mental health nursing are human activities that imply entering into mutual relationships. CONCLUSION: Mental health nurses' leadership, management and transformational leadership are positively related in terms of effectiveness and nurses' skills. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: It is important to consider mental health nurses' management as a form of leadership similar to or as a natural consequence of transformational leadership (TL) and that ethical concerns must be constantly prioritized throughout every level of the organization.