On 2016 Dec 08, University of Kansas School of Nursing Journal Club commented:

Reviewers: Abigail Spare, Chelsea Gilmore, Haley Orlowski, Amy Toth, Kelley Ebeling, Nadia Grayfer, Mike Kelley, and Lauren Aks. [Team 2: KUSON Class of 2017].

Background Introduction

In our Development of a Microsystem Leader course, we have focused on several elements that enhance and maintain a healthy work environment. These elements include employee motivation, transformational leadership, and meaningful recognition. The article selected touched on many of these elements, and outlined the characteristics of both a transformational and authentic nurse leader from a historical perspective. This article met one of the requirements for the course as well as provided our group with a good understanding of these concepts. It also added a new perspective as to how transformational and authentic leadership was exemplified in the past. It took a closer look at both the character traits and practices of Matron Powell as a transformational and authentic leader through reported narratives. The article identified both the leadership qualities that set her apart from other nurse leaders, as well as her influence amongst the healthcare personnel and the patient population she served.

Methods

The article was found using CINAHL database. This qualitative paper uses secondary data analysis of existing narrative interviews done in the past guided by a natural enquiry that sought to understand the influence of Matron Powell in nursing practice. The data narrative was based on 136 nurses’ transcripts taken from the “Nurses Voices” archives at Kingston University and St. George’s at the University of London. The narrative data consisted of over 1000 face to face interviews of nurses who were trained and have worked at hospitals in London between the years of 1920 and 2000. These interviews were initially recorded, transcribed verbatim, and archived – describing many aspects of the nursing experience over the span of 80 years. Data was collected in several stages using an inductive approach that allowed the researchers to move from the reading of the complete narratives, to discovering similar trends and categories, and identifying overarching themes resulting from the leadership of Matron Powell (Harris, Bennett, Ross, 2014).

Findings

Matron Powell’s impact on St. George’s Hospital resulted in two overarching themes: innovation and open communication. The authors describe innovation as a “leading influence to improve standards of care” (p. 1633). This innovation began with changes driven by Matron Powell as she changed the way the health care team viewed the patient and their plan of care. She advocated for a change in hiring practices so that married women could continue to work as nurses. Matron Powell’s attitude about improving standards of care then began to spread to her staff nurses. An early kind of quality improvement project was used to study the effectiveness of team nursing by pairing an experienced nurse with an inexperienced assistant. The outcome was a success that led to the hospital wide implementation (Harris et al., 2014).

The other theme was open communication, or the “ability to communicate at all levels” (pg. 1632). Many accounts spoke of Matron Powell’s ability to facilitate open communication with the nurses, health care personnel, and even the patients. Through communication she established a culture of mutual respect, camaraderie among the staff, and a general sense of teamwork. “Muriel Powell came in to talk to us in block and of course we all shot to our feet as one did and she said, ‘sit down we are all colleagues’” (pg. 1633). Even though her title gave her a substantial amount of power, she still saw herself as equals to her nursing colleagues. One narrative spoke of her ability to check on the patients and the care they were receiving without making the nurse feel inferior or in the wrong. Many of the interviews spoke very highly of Matron Powell, and this may contribute to some of the limitations of the research. Because all of the data studied had been from archives, there was no way to know why some former employees were interviewed and others were not. It is also limited by the lack of almost any negative comments. This hints at the idea that there may have been some bias in those who chose to participate in the interviews (Harris et al., 2014).

Implications to Nursing

The people interviewed told the story of Matron Muriel Powell’s career, influence, and legacy. They recognized the impact of this nurse’s leadership on nursing practice and patient outcomes. The effects of Powell’s leadership expanded beyond the lines of her profession and impacted the work environment of the whole hospital, demonstrating the need for nurse leaders. Matron Powell’s example is one to be examined and emulated in nursing practice. Her ability to lead was accompanied with vision, compassion, and friendliness, but she also stuck to her job with a firmness that many spoke of with respect (Harris et al., 2014). This can be replicated in our own nursing careers as we strive to become proficient nurses and front line leaders that will provide quality patient care in collaboration with the rest of our healthcare team.

The history of nursing is incredibly intriguing. Being aware of our history and how it influences our nursing profession’s future helps to define the leaders that served as the pillars of our profession and draw from the characteristics that made them effective leaders and nurses. By appraising the example of Matron Powell, we can see specific qualities that made her an effective transformational leader who improved patient care, influenced and empowered nurses, contributed to the improvement of the work environment, and made a significant impact on the improvement of nursing by education at her time.

Today there is a drive toward understanding the impact of nursing leadership on patient outcomes, worker’s satisfaction and motivation, and enhancement of a healthy work environment. The Institute of Medicine’s report on The Future of Nursing calls for nurses to occupy positions of leadership in the work environment, and contribute to the improvement of our healthcare system (IOM, 2011). Analyzing leadership in nursing from a historical perspective brings to light the results of what effective leadership can give to the improvement of nursing practice.

References Harris, R., Bennett, J., & Ross, F. (2014). Leadership and innovation in nursing seen through a historical lens. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(7), 1629-1638. doi:10.1111/jan.12325

Institute Of Medicine. (2011). Key messages of the report. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington D.C.: The National Academies Press.

On 2016 Dec 08, University of Kansas School of Nursing Journal Club commented:

Reviewers: Abigail Spare, Chelsea Gilmore, Haley Orlowski, Amy Toth, Kelley Ebeling, Nadia Grayfer, Mike Kelley, and Lauren Aks. [Team 2: KUSON Class of 2017].

Background Introduction

In our Development of a Microsystem Leader course, we have focused on several elements that enhance and maintain a healthy work environment. These elements include employee motivation, transformational leadership, and meaningful recognition. The article selected touched on many of these elements, and outlined the characteristics of both a transformational and authentic nurse leader from a historical perspective. This article met one of the requirements for the course as well as provided our group with a good understanding of these concepts. It also added a new perspective as to how transformational and authentic leadership was exemplified in the past. It took a closer look at both the character traits and practices of Matron Powell as a transformational and authentic leader through reported narratives. The article identified both the leadership qualities that set her apart from other nurse leaders, as well as her influence amongst the healthcare personnel and the patient population she served.

Methods

The article was found using CINAHL database. This qualitative paper uses secondary data analysis of existing narrative interviews done in the past guided by a natural enquiry that sought to understand the influence of Matron Powell in nursing practice. The data narrative was based on 136 nurses’ transcripts taken from the “Nurses Voices” archives at Kingston University and St. George’s at the University of London. The narrative data consisted of over 1000 face to face interviews of nurses who were trained and have worked at hospitals in London between the years of 1920 and 2000. These interviews were initially recorded, transcribed verbatim, and archived – describing many aspects of the nursing experience over the span of 80 years. Data was collected in several stages using an inductive approach that allowed the researchers to move from the reading of the complete narratives, to discovering similar trends and categories, and identifying overarching themes resulting from the leadership of Matron Powell (Harris, Bennett, Ross, 2014).

Findings

Matron Powell’s impact on St. George’s Hospital resulted in two overarching themes: innovation and open communication. The authors describe innovation as a “leading influence to improve standards of care” (p. 1633). This innovation began with changes driven by Matron Powell as she changed the way the health care team viewed the patient and their plan of care. She advocated for a change in hiring practices so that married women could continue to work as nurses. Matron Powell’s attitude about improving standards of care then began to spread to her staff nurses. An early kind of quality improvement project was used to study the effectiveness of team nursing by pairing an experienced nurse with an inexperienced assistant. The outcome was a success that led to the hospital wide implementation (Harris et al., 2014).

The other theme was open communication, or the “ability to communicate at all levels” (pg. 1632). Many accounts spoke of Matron Powell’s ability to facilitate open communication with the nurses, health care personnel, and even the patients. Through communication she established a culture of mutual respect, camaraderie among the staff, and a general sense of teamwork. “Muriel Powell came in to talk to us in block and of course we all shot to our feet as one did and she said, ‘sit down we are all colleagues’” (pg. 1633). Even though her title gave her a substantial amount of power, she still saw herself as equals to her nursing colleagues. One narrative spoke of her ability to check on the patients and the care they were receiving without making the nurse feel inferior or in the wrong. Many of the interviews spoke very highly of Matron Powell, and this may contribute to some of the limitations of the research. Because all of the data studied had been from archives, there was no way to know why some former employees were interviewed and others were not. It is also limited by the lack of almost any negative comments. This hints at the idea that there may have been some bias in those who chose to participate in the interviews (Harris et al., 2014).

Implications to Nursing

The people interviewed told the story of Matron Muriel Powell’s career, influence, and legacy. They recognized the impact of this nurse’s leadership on nursing practice and patient outcomes. The effects of Powell’s leadership expanded beyond the lines of her profession and impacted the work environment of the whole hospital, demonstrating the need for nurse leaders. Matron Powell’s example is one to be examined and emulated in nursing practice. Her ability to lead was accompanied with vision, compassion, and friendliness, but she also stuck to her job with a firmness that many spoke of with respect (Harris et al., 2014). This can be replicated in our own nursing careers as we strive to become proficient nurses and front line leaders that will provide quality patient care in collaboration with the rest of our healthcare team.

The history of nursing is incredibly intriguing. Being aware of our history and how it influences our nursing profession’s future helps to define the leaders that served as the pillars of our profession and draw from the characteristics that made them effective leaders and nurses. By appraising the example of Matron Powell, we can see specific qualities that made her an effective transformational leader who improved patient care, influenced and empowered nurses, contributed to the improvement of the work environment, and made a significant impact on the improvement of nursing by education at her time.

Today there is a drive toward understanding the impact of nursing leadership on patient outcomes, worker’s satisfaction and motivation, and enhancement of a healthy work environment. The Institute of Medicine’s report on The Future of Nursing calls for nurses to occupy positions of leadership in the work environment, and contribute to the improvement of our healthcare system (IOM, 2011). Analyzing leadership in nursing from a historical perspective brings to light the results of what effective leadership can give to the improvement of nursing practice.

References Harris, R., Bennett, J., & Ross, F. (2014). Leadership and innovation in nursing seen through a historical lens. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(7), 1629-1638. doi:10.1111/jan.12325

Institute Of Medicine. (2011). Key messages of the report. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington D.C.: The National Academies Press.