Question

A charge nurse on a busy 40-bed medical/surgical unit is approached by a family member who begins to complain loudly about the quality of care his mother is receiving. His behavior is so disruptive that it is overheard by staff, physicians, and other visitors. The family member leaves the unit abruptly, and the nurse is left feeling frustrated. Which behavior by the charge nurse best illustrates refined leadership skills in an emotionally intelligent practitioner?

A. Reflect to gain insight into how the situation could be handled differently in the future.
B. Try to catch up with the angry family member to resolve the concern.
C. Discuss the concern with the patient after the family member has left.
D. Notify nursing administration of the situation.

Answer 1

The behavior that best illustrates refined leadership skills and emotional intelligence in the given scenario is for the charge nurse to reflect on the situation to improve future handling of similar incidents and prevent disruptions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best behavior that illustrates refined leadership skills in an emotionally intelligent practitioner is A. Reflect to gain insight into how the situation could be handled differently in the future. This option allows the charge nurse to evaluate the situation critically and develop strategies to prevent similar incidents in the future, while also enhancing communication and conflict resolution skills.

A key component of emotional intelligence is self-reflection, which enables leaders to learn from experiences and manage their emotions effectively in challenging situations.Option B might be a good immediate response, but without reflection, similar disruptive situations could arise again.

Option C focuses on the patient but does not directly deal with the family member's complaint. Option D, notifying administration, may be appropriate, but as a standalone action, it does not demonstrate the proactive leadership skills expected of a refined leader equipped with emotional intelligence.