Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

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Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514 – Step-by-Step Guide With Example Solution

The first step before starting to write the Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514 is to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length, and the format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the paper’s audience and purpose, as this will help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing, and revising, to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, review its use, including how to write citations and reference the resources used. You should also review the formatting requirements for the title page and the paper’s headings, as outlined by GCU.

How to Research and Prepare for Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify a list of keywords related to your topic using various combinations. The first step is to visit the GCU University library and search its database using key keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from the GCU University Library, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure you select references published in the last 5 years and review each to assess credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, such as APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references by themes that align with the paper’s outline. Go through each reference and summarize the key concepts, arguments, and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching. After the above steps, you can develop a strong, clear, concise, and arguable thesis. Next, create a detailed outline to help you develop the paper’s headings and subheadings. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part, as it helps provide the context of your work and determines whether the reader will be interested in reading through to the end. Begin with a hook to capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence collected from the research, and ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance, as well as how it relates to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between paragraphs by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

In-text citations help readers give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their work. All ideas borrowed from references, any statistics, and direct quotes must be properly referenced. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation at the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember also to include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as follows:

“The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Morelli et al. (2024), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Alawiye (2024) highlights that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.”

How to Write the Conclusion for Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restating your thesis to remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the paper’s key points by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. Conclude with a call to action that leaves a lasting impression on the reader or offers recommendations. 

How to Format the Reference List for Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in alphabetical order, with each entry indented. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Morelli, S., Daniele, C., D’Avenio, G., Grigioni, M., & Giansanti, D. (2024). Optimizing telehealth: Leveraging Key Performance Indicators for enhanced telehealth and digital healthcare outcomes (Telemechron Study). Healthcare, 12(13), 1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131319

Alawiye, T. (2024). The impact of digital technology on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 13, 13-22. 10.4236/etsn.2024.132002.

Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514 Instructions

Assessment Description

The purpose of this assignment is to assist learners in developing effective communication by emphasizing the proper application of APA style. APA style is required for the graduate program. Have a look at NUR 514 Topic 3 DQ 1 Describe an organizational change model that can be used in a dynamic health care environment.

Refer to the resources in the Class Resources and Student Success Center for assistance with APA. Use the APA Style Guide resource, located in the Student Success Center, to complete this assignment.

For this assignment, complete the following:

Self-Assessment

Self-awareness is essential for developing leadership skills. Recognizing your own strengths, weaknesses, and values, and understanding emotional intelligence and learning styles can help you to be a more effective nurse leader.

For this assignment, you have the opportunity to take a variety of self-assessments to learn more about yourself and identify your assets and weaknesses as a leader. This will assist you in discovering how you can improve your own self-leadership skills. You will be asked to think critically about your results and submit a reflection as directed below.

Refer to the topic Resources. Select and complete three self-assessments. Be sure to document the results of each assessment to assist you in completing the reflection portion of the assignment below.

Self-Assessment Reflection

Becoming self-aware is an ongoing process requiring introspection. The more often people practice self-reflection, the more opportunities they have to understand their own behaviors and adapt their approaches to working with other people, which can improve both your own and other’s abilities to meet their professional goals.

In a 1,000-1,250 word reflective essay, address the following:

  1. Provide a rationale and brief summary for selecting each self-assessment. Summarize the results you obtained on each assessment.
  2. Identify the leadership style that closely aligns to your philosophy of care and explain what appeals to you about that style.
  3. Reflect on how you might incorporate elements of that particular style as you exercise leadership in a practice or health care organization setting.
  4. Discuss any particular areas for improvement the assessments helped you identify and some steps for improving your leadership capabilities.
  5. Analyze the characteristics of an effective professional nurse leader, or individuals in nursing leadership. Discuss the characteristics and explain why they are effective for leadership in nursing.
  6. Analyze different leadership theories and leadership styles. Select one theory and leadership style, different from your own, and explain how they each support a professional nurse leader or individual in nursing leadership. Consider how the theory shapes the nurse leader in such things as collaboration, conflict resolution, decision making, and negotiation.

You are required to cite three to five sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.

Complete the “APA Writing Checklist” to ensure that your paper adheres to APA style and formatting criteria and general guidelines for academic writing. Include the completed checklist as an appendix at the end of your paper.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Attachments

Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay NUR 514 Example Approach

Various literature sources document leadership in nursing as a product of various concepts such as personality, personal and professional values, knowledge level and learning capacity, and interpersonal interaction skills. Various leadership styles are determined by the leader’s values, personality, and interpersonal influence among other factors (Denisco, 2019). Interpersonal influence impacts their social interaction with colleagues and thus the effectiveness of their leadership. Nursing leaders should be self-aware of their qualities for effective utilization of their most appropriate leadership style (Weberg et al., 2018). I evaluated my leadership capabilities by performing various self-assessment tests which included emotional intelligence, personal values, personality, cultural diversity, and learning styles. The purpose of this reflective essay paper is to describe qualities regarding these self-assessments and purpose the most appropriate leadership style. 

Self-Assessment

Emotional Intelligence

 I conducted a self-assessment test on my emotional intelligence because developing emotional intelligence is one of the key strategies to achieving specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timebound (SMART) goals in leadership. To be emotionally intelligent, the nurse leader should understand factors that contribute to behavior and be aware of the best ways to approach these factors to manage people (Weberg et al., 2018). Emotional intelligence contributes to the intellectual capacity that is necessary for successful leadership (Bessie & Huston, 2020). Emotional responses influence productivity and teamwork in a nursing care setting thus important to acquire emotional intelligence knowledge and skills. This is the main reason why I chose this assessment.  The emotional intelligence self-assessment test that I undertook had 341 questions that assessed the ability to identify emotions in the self. I score 73% on this test the snapshot of the results showed that my strengths in emotional intelligence include m ability to identify the way my body reacts at the physiological level. I averagely scored at the identification of complex emotions. Nevertheless, I feel content with my emotional intelligence capacity.

Personality Test

I performed a self-assessment test involving the Big-Five personalities. According to Peterson & Bredow (2020), Hildegard Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations theory defined personality as a “pattern that is relatively stable and that characterizes persisting situations in the life of an individual.” Nurses need to understand their own personalities to appreciate the psychobiological experiences of others. This would enable a leader to identify task deficits and supplement these tasks to maximize team outcomes (Peterson & Bredow, 2020). I chose this self-assessment to understand my personality strengths and weakness that would determine leadership decision-making and team management. The result of this test revealed that I scored 84% on Big Five Personality Test. My key personality is extroversion. I am mostly extroverted and sociable but with little introverted tendencies. I feel stimulated being around others but content to spend time alone and with personal tasks. However, tasks that require so much solitude are likely to stifle me.

Learning Styles Assessment

Learning is a continuous and lifelong process thus important in leadership and nursing management (Denisco, 2019). Learning new roles promotes professional specialization (Bessie & Huston, 2020). To assess my best learning styles, I took the VARK Questionnaire self-assessment. This test assessed visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic abilities in learning. I scored highest in visual, aural, and kinesthetic learning at 14, 13, and 15 respectively but better at reading/writing strategies (9). Therefore, I can sustain read/write learning but can perform best with multimodal learning strategies involving visual, aural, and kinesthetic techniques of learning. I have strong preferences for learning by seeing, listening, and doing. This will enhance my versatility to adapt to changes in learning and acquiring knowledge from different sources

Values Assessment

Values and expectations in nursing practice and leadership are essential for professional advancement. According to Stanley (2022), embracing value-based leadership enables the nurse leader to apply cultural diversity and culture change. Value-based leadership links the leader’s values to their actions. Values and roles need to work in tandem to enable clinically focused nurses to move clearly and decisively to express congruent leadership (Stanley, 2022). A nurse, therefore, needs to understand their values and strengths to fulfill their leadership roles. Therefore, I took a value assessment test that assessed dominant, influencing, and minor values. The tests restored that my dominant values include theoretical values, social values, and realistic values. My influencing values were traditional, aesthetic values, and political values. However, no minor values were returned. According to this test, theoretical, social, and realistic values are the most important to me while traditional, aesthetic, and political values are of moderate importance to me.

Diversity Assessment

Cultural diversity is a common concept that has been emphasized in contemporary nursing as part o quality improvement in nursing care (Potter et al., 2020). I took the Cultural Competence Self-Test to understand areas that I need to address to improve my care provision to coitally diverse pupations. This test assessed values & attitudes, physical environment, and communication styles. From this assessment, I feel confident in the frequency of good utilization of the physical environment, my personal values, and good communication to provide neutral and culturally-sensitive care 

Specific Leadership Style

The above assessment showed that I portray satisfactory emotional intelligence,  I am extroverted and enjoy being around others, treasure social and realistic values, learn best through interaction seeing, simulating, hearing, and practicing, and exhibit satisfactory culturally-sensitive skills. These skills align well with a transformational leadership style. The transformational leadership style is based on vision, self-knowledge, trust, and communication (Bessie & Huston, 2020; Stanley, 2022). What appeals to me most about this leadership style is the focus on vision and goals and the ability to manage change (Butts & Rich, 2021). A transformational leader has a dream, can articulate this effectively, is consistent, and can be trusted by followers, and trust themselves without letting their ego intervene.

Incorporating Transformational Leadership Style

My social interaction skills and extroversion enable me to communicate and influence others. My vision can bring others to focus with common goals that ensure win-win situations thus good conflict resolution and cohesion among teams. I am versatile and can adapt to change to meet the common goals in a team setting but values realistic process for these achievements. I build on mutual stimulation that I believe can transform others into leaders and moral agents.

Areas of Improvement

The assessment enabled me to realize the need to improve in emotional intelligence regarding complex emotions. Emotions that are obvious but present with mixed feelings still challenge me but I believe that with further practice and situation tests, I will improve this aspect of nursing leadership. This concept has enlightened me that more than one emotion can be presented by an individual and can influence the way to approach such emotional situations to keep the person in the team and focus on the goals.

Characteristics of an Effective Professional Nurse Leader

From the above assessments, I can point out that an effective professional nurse leader should therefore be emotionally intelligent, has a set of personal and professional values that guide decisions and actions, communicates well, and can work with different personalities. The ability to work with different personalities makes the professional nurse leader situational and transformative at the same time. Possession skills such as communication, social interaction, and learning also complement an effective nurse leader.

Leadership Theories and Styles

Some of the leadership theories include transformational theory, situational theory, trait theory, and the great man theory. The transformational theory of leadership suggests that nurse leaders seek to satisfy higher needs by settling on potential motives that drive followers. Situational theory suggests that the situation and occasion determine the right thing to do by the leader regarding decision-making and actions. Trait theory explains that a leader can possess multiple traits but no leader can possess all traits of a good leader. The great man theory is traditional and believes that all leaders were men and were great and noble. The situational theory is different from my preferred theory, transformational, but emphasizes on versatility and uniqueness of situations. Understanding uniqueness can enable a leader to maneuver different and difficult situations. This feature can enable the leader to negotiate with different personnel, collaborate with different professionals in various cadres, and resolve conflict using different styles among individuals with different personality traits.

Conclusion

This reflective essay is based on self-assessment that has made me realize some potential skills that I can utilize as a future leader in nursing. Key themes are emotional intelligence, communication, value-based leadership, cultural sensitivity, and continuous learning. I have established myself as a transformational leader but can use a situational leadership style at times.

References

Bessie, L., & Huston, C. (2020). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health.

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2021). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice (4th ed.). Jones and Bartlett.

Denisco, S. M. (2019). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge the profession: Essential knowledge for the profession (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.

Peterson, S., & Bredow, T. S. (2020). Middle range theories: Application to nursing research and practice. Wolters Kluwer Health.

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. A., & Hall, A. (2020). Fundamentals of nursing (10th ed.). Elsevier – Health Sciences Division.

Stanley, D. (2022). Clinical leadership in nursing and healthcare 3rd edition. Wiley-Blackwell.

Weberg, D., Mangold, K., Porter-O’Grady, T., & Malloch, K. (2018). Leadership In Nursing Practice (3rd ed.). Jones and Bartlett.

NUR 514 Topic 2 APA Assignment Leadership Style Reflective Essay Example 2

Leadership Style Reflective Essay

Effective leadership, especially in nursing, is essential in delivering quality care, fostering an inclusive and conducive work environment, and driving change in healthcare organizations. Leadership self-assessments help nurse leaders gain insight into their leadership strengths and areas of improvement, hence planning on addressing them to become effective leaders. I completed the emotional intelligence, cultural diversity awareness, and learning styles self-assessments.

This essay provides a rationale for selecting each leadership self-assessment and summarizes the results obtained from each. It identifies the leadership style that aligns with my philosophy of care and what appeals to me about the style and reflects on incorporating the elements of the identified style as I exercise leadership in practice. It will also explore the areas for improvement identified based on the assessments, outline the steps for enhancing my leadership capabilities, analyze the characteristics of an effective professional nurse leader, and discuss various leadership styles and theories.

Rationale and Self-Assessment Results Summary

The leadership self-assessments selected were emotional intelligence, cultural diversity awareness, and learning style self-assessments. These assessments were selected because emotional intelligence, cultural diversity, and learning considerably influence my ability to lead effectively. Therefore, I needed to understand my leadership strengths and areas for improvement. The emotional intelligence assessment evaluates a leader’s ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions.

It was selected because leadership in healthcare entails emotions such as empathy and self-awareness; being aware of my emotions would, in turn, improve my leadership effectiveness. The cultural diversity awareness assessment measured my cultural biases, sensitivity to different perspectives, and ability to adapt care practices to meet the needs of diverse patient populations. Additionally, the learning style self-assessment helped identify my learning style, which was selected because leadership entails life-long learning, and understanding my learning style would help me learn more effectively.

The emotional intelligence assessment results were at the 99th percentile, showing that I can deal with my emotions, other people’s emotions, and emotional situations in general. The cultural diversity awareness questionnaire scored 133/160, showing high cultural sensitivity and awareness of cultural biases. The learning style self-assessment results were that my learning style is multimodal, with visual, aural, read/write, and Kinesthetic areas scoring 9,13, 13, and 11, respectively, suggesting that I benefit from hands-on experiences and visual aids when acquiring new skills. These results are a foundation for enhancing my leadership effectiveness through emotional regulation, cultural competence, and adaptive learning strategies.

Leadership Style Aligning with Philosophy of Care

My philosophy of care is built on serving and advocating for patients, fostering teamwork, and creating an environment that supports patients’ healing and staff’s effective role-playing. The leadership style that aligns with my philosophy of care is servant leadership. According to Purwanti et al. (2023), the servant leadership style is an approach that prioritizes the well-being of others before personal gain, ensuring patients receive high-quality, compassionate care where healthcare teams feel empowered and supported.

This leadership style appeals to me due to its core principles of selflessness, active listening, empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, all of which align with my values in nursing practice and my belief in ethical, compassionate, and team-oriented practices that promote patient care quality and staff well-being. Additionally, studies have shown that servant leadership positively impacts patient outcomes, staff satisfaction, and organizational culture (Purwanti et al., 2023).

Incorporating Elements of Servant Leadership in Practice

The servant leadership style encompasses various elements that prioritize serving others first. These elements include empathy, awareness, persuasion, listening, and building community. As I assume various leadership roles in healthcare settings, I intend to incorporate these elements into my role to enhance patient care, strengthen teamwork, and foster a positive workplace culture in several ways. For instance, I can incorporate active listening with patients and families to understand their unique needs and concerns, effectively addressing them to achieve better patient outcomes.

Additionally, I will incorporate building community by fostering a sense of belonging and unity within my team, empowering, influencing, and guiding team members to participate openly and effectively, leading to better team outcomes. Neville et al. (2021) note that a servant leader focuses on nurturing and uplifting their team in persuasion rather than coercion. Similarly, I will integrate this element into healthcare leadership by providing mentorship and coaching to other nurses, encouraging professional development, and ensuring a supportive work environment by recognizing and addressing workplace challenges.

Areas of Improvement and Improving Leadership Capabilities

Effective leadership requires continuous growth and self-awareness. According to Fulmore et al. (2023), leadership self-assessments enable leaders to identify their strengths and areas for improvement, fostering self-awareness and guiding continuous leadership development. The self-assessments mentioned above identified three key areas for improvement: adapting social skills, regulating emotions in high-stress environments, and maintaining an optimistic outlook while preparing for contingencies. Social skills are essential for healthcare leaders, as they need to communicate effectively, collaborate, and establish trust within the healthcare team. To develop my social skills, I intend to enhance active listening and participate in mediation and conflict resolution leadership workshops.

Furthermore, I intend to strengthen my emotional regulation in high-stress environments by remaining composed, considering that my reactions as a leader influence my team’s ability to function effectively. To improve my capabilities in this area, I will practice mindfulness and stress management techniques, participate in emotional intelligence training, and seek mentorship from more experienced leaders. I also intend to balance optimism with strategic planning by developing a proactive mindset and practicing cognitive reframing to help me stay motivated and adaptable.

Characteristics of an Effective Professional Nurse Leader

Various characteristics of an effective professional nurse leader exist. These characteristics include emotional intelligence, strong/effective communication, critical thinking, and adaptability (Weberg & Mangold, 2022). Emotional intelligence helps the leader navigate team dynamics, which is essential in nursing practice and ensures compassionate, patient-centered care.

Clear communication fosters collaboration and efficiency, while critical thinking and adaptability enable leaders to respond effectively to common challenges in nursing practice, such as staffing shortages or emergencies. Other characteristics, such as advocacy and mentorship, are also essential for nurse leaders. They advocate for patients and staff, ensuring the delivery of ethical care and a supportive work environment. Nurse leaders also mentor junior nurses, hence fostering professional growth.

Application of a Different Leadership Theory and Style

Different leadership theories and styles, which differ from mine, support professional nurse leaders. For instance, transformational leadership and Lewin’s change management theories are widely used in nursing leadership. Unlike servant leadership, transformational leadership focuses on inspiring and motivating teams to achieve organizational goals (Moosa et al., 2023). Transformational nurse leaders foster innovation, collaboration, and professional growth, creating a culture of continuous improvement.

In contrast, Lewin’s change management theory supports nurse leaders in navigating organizational change through its unfreeze, change, and refreeze model. It can help nurse leaders engage teams, reduce resistance, and implement sustainable improvements in healthcare settings. The theory and leadership style enhance conflict resolution, decision-making, and negotiation by ensuring smooth transitions and high-performing healthcare teams.

Conclusion

Effective leadership requires self-awareness, adaptability, and a commitment to growth. Servant leadership aligns perfectly with my philosophy of care, as discussed above. I can enhance my servant leadership approach by developing my identified areas of leadership improvement. Effective professional nurse leaders demonstrate emotional intelligence, advocacy, and mentorship, fostering collaboration and ethical care: transformational leadership and Lewin’s change management theory support team motivation and organizational change.

References

Fulmore, J. A., Olson, J., & Maellaro, R. (2023). Aligning leadership education: Linking interpersonal skills development to business needs. Journal of Management Education, 47(3), 263-291. https://doi.org/10.1177/10525629221133369

Neville, K., Conway, K., Maglione, J., Connolly, K. A., Foley, M., & Re, S. (2021). Understanding servant leadership in nursing: a concept analysis. International Journal for Human Caring. 25(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.20467/HumanCaring-D-20-00022    

Moosa, M. D., Moosa, V., & Faheem, S. (2023). Prevailing leadership styles in change management: Evidence from existing research. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(5), 6. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i5.1289

Purwanti, R. Y., Sriatmi, A., & Dwiantoro, L. (2023). The impact of servant leadership in nursing practice at the hospital: A literature review. Journal of Holistic Nursing Science, 10(2), 82-88. https://doi.org/10.31603/nursing.v10i2.8464 

 Weberg, D., & Mangold, K. (2022). Leadership in nursing practice: the intersection of innovation and teamwork in healthcare systems. Jones & Bartlett Learning.