Leadership in nursing: The importance of recognising inherent values and attributes to secure a positive future for the profession

With appropriate identification, support and development of future nurse leaders, an acknowledgement of the shifting paradigm of leadership theory and the context in which future nurse leaders are destined to grow, the ultimate goal of the nursing profession - excellent in person-centred care - can be achieved. It is essential to the future success of the nursing profession that informal, negative “leaders” be discouraged and positive leaders, possessing the evidence-based qualities of leadership be identified and nurtured to lead the profession.