Leadership - Challenges and attributes of the nursing professional in practice as a manager

Abstract

To identify in the literature the main challenges and fundamental characteristics for the effective exercise of management by nurses. Materials and methods: A narrative review was carried out by combining the descriptors "Leadership AND Role of the Nursing Professional" in the BDENF, IBECS, LILACS and SciELO databases. Results: 373 publications were identified, of which 14 comprised the final sample. Most of the research was carried out in Brazil, with a greater concentration in the years 2022 and 2019, with a predominance of qualitative approaches. The main challenges faced by nurse managers include administrative overload, lack of formal training in leadership and emotional pressure. The lack of succession planning in health institutions is also a significant challenge, hindering the transition of managers and impacting leadership effectiveness. To overcome these obstacles, it is crucial that nurse managers develop essential characteristics such as flexibility in leadership style, proactivity and effective communication. Situational leadership and the ability to adapt leadership according to the team's experience are vital. Furthermore, a systemic vision and continuous skill development are essential to face challenges and promote a collaborative and satisfactory work environment. Final considerations: It is concluded that there is a need to integrate leadership training into initial education and promote continuous development programs for managers. Improving succession planning and management training can increase management effectiveness and professional satisfaction, resulting in better patient care and a more productive and collaborative work environment.