Leadership is a concept that is critical in all professions. In nursing, it is especially critical as it influences others to provide quality care and also helps mitigate the pressure of making difficult decisions for the welfare of the patient. The emotional intelligence of my interviewee is high, but not without its flaws. She has all the qualities of emotional intelligence, including social awareness, social management, self-management and self-awareness. Her only shortcoming was that her great empathy towards her patients leaves her vulnerable to becoming overly emotional when they pass away. While we both know death is something that we will experience often, there is a fine line for healthcare staff where we must protect ourselves from becoming heartbroken while also expressing our sympathies in a reserved manner. Although she is in a leadership position, her democratic leadership style leaves her open to receiving feedback from the individuals she manages. Additionally, she is also able to confide in her peers who are in similar positions.
After just recently having her first child and being out of work on maternity leave, she is unsure of how she will manage her life as both a provider and a mother. Although she misses being at work and is eager to return, she recognizes that she has a new position and must face the challenges that come with both work and her personal life. This interview has led me to believe that the path that you had initially started in life doesn’t always have to be the path that you finish with. With nursing as a second degree, I am eager to employ my current life experiences with the new knowledge that I have learned. I am hopeful that as I continue on my path I may find new avenues that I hadn’t expected to become involved in and I take the opportunity to travel in any direction that this career leads me in.
Nice reflection, thank you.