The Nurse Leader as Change Agent and Role Model: Thoughts of a New Nurse Manager

The concept of leadership is elusive. Is it a behavior, a combination of actions, personal characteristics, tangible and measurable, assumed? Are leaders born? Are leaders made? Can positive change really be made? What drives the thinking behind leadership behavior? Does a more seasoned nurse have more leadership potential or characteristics than a younger, enthusiastic, energetic nurse? With whom do organizational leaders take a chance? Do mentoring and coaching come into play? Are female leaders viewed as less competent than male? All these and many more questions are quite interesting to ponder.