NR504 Advanced Nursing Leadership and Systems Management: Discussion Board – Leadership Reflection on Clinical Decision-Making (Chamberlain University College of Nursing)

Effective nursing leadership relies on reflective practice and critical decision-making in complex healthcare environments. Advanced practice nurses must continually assess their own leadership behaviors, communication approaches, and ethical decision-making processes to ensure safe, patient-centered outcomes. Reflection promotes professional growth, fosters accountability, and strengthens clinical leadership competencies. This discussion encourages thoughtful analysis of your clinical experiences through the lens of advanced leadership and systems management theories.

Week 5 Discussion: Reflective Analysis on Leadership in Clinical Practice

Due: Initial post by Wednesday, 11:59 PM CST | Responses: Two peer replies by Sunday, 11:59 PM CST

Discussion Prompt

Think about a recent situation in your clinical practice where you faced a leadership challenge or had to make an important clinical decision that influenced patient outcomes. Use principles from advanced nursing leadership theories such as transformational, servant, or situational leadership to guide your reflection.

In your initial post (300–400 words), address the following:

1. Describe the clinical situation and explain your role in the decision-making process.
2. Discuss how leadership theory influenced your approach and the outcome of the situation.
3. Analyze what you learned about your leadership strengths and areas that need improvement.
4. Propose one evidence-based strategy you can apply to enhance leadership effectiveness in future clinical scenarios.

Support your discussion with at least two recent scholarly sources published between 2019 and 2026.

Peer Responses

Respond to at least two peers (150–200 words each). Offer constructive feedback, discuss alternative perspectives, or expand on leadership principles applied in their examples. Reference at least one scholarly source in each response to demonstrate engagement with evidence-based practice.

Discussion Rubric

Criteria	Exemplary (90–100%)	Proficient (80–89%)	Developing (70–79%)	Emerging (Below 70%)
Application of Leadership Theory	Clearly connects leadership theory to clinical decision-making with strong evidence and analysis.	Applies leadership theory with moderate depth and clear examples.	Mentions leadership theory with limited analysis or unclear application.	Lacks application or understanding of leadership theory.
Depth of Reflection	Provides thoughtful, detailed reflection that demonstrates self-awareness and critical insight.	Shows adequate reflection with identifiable learning outcomes.	Reflection is superficial or descriptive with minimal analysis.	Reflection lacks personal insight or relevance to practice.
Evidence Integration	Integrates current, credible sources effectively to support discussion points.	Uses evidence adequately with some connection to the topic.	Limited or outdated sources used with weak integration.	No evidence or inappropriate references provided.
Peer Interaction	Engages peers with substantive, respectful, and evidence-based responses.	Provides relevant feedback that supports discussion.	Replies are minimal or lack depth.	No or off-topic responses to peers.
Writing and APA Format	Writing is clear, organized, and free of grammatical or formatting errors.	Minor errors that do not affect readability.	Noticeable errors or weak organization.	Frequent errors that interfere with clarity or APA adherence.

An example of leadership in practice occurred during a shift when a patient’s oxygen saturation dropped unexpectedly after surgery. Effective communication and delegation were essential in coordinating the team’s response. Applying transformational leadership principles helped motivate the staff to act collaboratively and maintain calm under pressure. Reflection on this situation revealed the importance of emotional intelligence and timely decision-making in preventing complications and improving patient safety outcomes.

References

• Cummings, G.G., Tate, K., & Lee, S. (2020). Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 109, 103675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103675
• Whittemore, R., & Dixon, J. (2021). Applying evidence-based leadership principles in clinical decision-making. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(4), 598–606. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13201
• Stanley, D. (2019). Clinical leadership and innovation in nursing practice. British Journal of Nursing, 28(8), 516–520. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2019.28.8.516
• Wei, H., Sewell, K.A., Woody, G., & Rose, M.A. (2018). The state of the science of nurse work environments in the United States: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 5(3), 287–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2018.04.010