Reclaiming caring in nursing leadership: A deconstruction of leadership using a Habermasian lens

SummaryNursing leaders function in an environment of increasing demands coupled with decreasing resources. This paper explores the landscape of nursing leadership from a critical theory perspective, particularly Habermas's theory of communicative action. We not only deconstruct contemporary nursing leadership, discussing the potential negative consequences for those who fulfil roles of both ‘nurse’ and ‘leader’, but also offer possibilities for a more positive future.