Frameworks for Becoming a Transformational Leader

Abstract

The world needs visionary, effective, and wise leaders. Never has this statement been truer than it is in the world of healthcare today. Leadership matters. It matters in every organization, not only for nurses to thrive in their careers but to advance effective healthcare for society. This chapter considers the challenges facing today’s leaders in healthcare systems and the need for leaders who can transform these challenges into opportunities. It reviews foundational historical and theoretical contexts for leadership, and discusses the evolution and envisioned role of doctorally prepared nurses in healthcare systems and how they can exert positive influence as leaders within these systems. The chapter then explores theoretical contexts in the discipline of leadership to guide transformational leadership. It helps reader to develop leadership skills to shape the future of nursing and healthcare.