Every beginner should be guided by an expert.

In every aspect of nursing, our actions

should be accurate and factual, and as every one of us should start at the beginning, there
would always be one person that would serve as our preceptor or a leader that we should
follow at least while we are still newbies in our field.
Every mentor is unique, and they may have attitudes and characteristics that define
them and how they lead a team. Be prepared for getting to know and dealing with them with
these rundown on the most common types of nurse leaders that may manage you in your
unit.

1. Commanding and Imposing: Autocratic Style

Autocratic management style.
Its your first day on your first job as a staff nurse. After four years of toiling and sleeping
late, you finally grabbed hold of your license as a registered nurse. Another reason to
celebrate is that you acquired a job as a staff nurse at your local medical facility. You are as
excited as a three-year-old who is about to go on her first carousel ride.
Introductions with your team were made, you were briefed with the hospitals protocols, and
you were already assigned to a preceptor who will guide you and look over you for a couple
of weeks. Her first sentence to you is, Check Patient As vital signs and empty her bedpan.
Do your bedside care and report back to me for the patients medications. Call me, and only
me, if you need anything. Understood?
Student nurses and new nurses alike might be already cowering on their seats if they
encounter a so-called terror preceptor. These mentors love to order their juniors
around. They make decisions without reference from the other members of the team, and
this is because they want to do things as quickly as they could.
Authoritative, that is the right word for this kind of preceptor, and they are best to have
around during emergent situations. However, they could intimidate new members of the
team and might demotivate them, which could lead to absenteeism and staff turnover.

2. Encouraging and Engaging: Democratic Style

Democratic leadership style.

The unit is already receiving a lot of negative feedbacks from the patients and folks. The
staff is nearing burnout, there are high levels of absenteeism, staff morale is low and they
are losing the tender, loving care they should include in their everyday tasks.
Your unit manager called for a meeting before the shift and laid out the problems that the
unit is facing. Since she can see the state of her staff, I know you are all nearing burnout,
and you must be really demotivated. We have to rise above this situation, so I called upon
you to help me and our unit to gain back our optimism. Do you any ideas on how we can
overcome our state? team members were able to vent out their frustrations and give
suggestions on how they can regain their motivations back. The unit manager chose the
best option that they had and arranged for it to be implemented. In no time at all, the team is
back on their feet with an extra swing to their walk.
This is the perfect demonstration of how a democratic leader moves around her unit. They
always include team members in their decision-making and as a result, the members are
always motivated and satisfied with their job. This kind of preceptor is encouraging creativity,
and her subordinates are very engaged in their tasks. However, this is not ideal for
emergency situations when you need a quick decision.

3. Detached and Easy-Going: Laissez-Faire Style

As a new nurse in the unit, you are quite cautious and afraid to plunge into the nursing
interventions and bedside tasks required of you. You approach your nurse preceptor
assigned to you and asked if she could observe you while you do a procedure. I know you
can do it, dont worry too much. Just let me know if you are already done with your tasks.
You are a bright girl. You know what to do. Uh-oh.
Your nurse preceptor obviously has a lot of trust in you, which is why she gives you a lot
of freedom to go ahead of your task. This kind of preceptor adapts the style of Laissez-faire.
They would let you decide on what you would want to do with your tasks and lets you set
deadlines.

THEY WOULD LET YOU DECIDE ON WHAT YOU WOULD WANT

TO DO WITH YOUR TASKS AND LETS YOU SET DEADLINES.

These mentors are supportive and are approachable, but they dont want to get involved
with your responsibilities. This can inspire a high level of satisfaction, but if the team
members lack the skill and the knowledge, it could be damaging to the whole group. Also, if
the nurse doesnt have effective time management skills, they would have a difficult time in
achieving their goals.

4. Meticulous and Precise: Bureaucratic Style

The hospital you are working in is undergoing a change in the administrative management.
The administrative officials and the board of directors are arranging a new set of protocols
and rules and regulations for the hospital, and many procedures are undergoing transition.
Your unit manager asked all of you to adhere to the new rules and regulations, however
inconvenient they are, since all of you are used to the old ways. I know we are all used to
the rules and regulations that were laid to us when we first entered this institution. But now
that they have been innovated, we must adhere to what our policies and procedures dictate.
I will never tolerate any breaking of the rules; sanctions would be immediately processed for
those who would do so, the unit manager told her team members.
This kind of preceptor is a strict follower of the rules; they want the policies to be followed
strictly and precisely. They always brief their team members on the importance of following
the rules and regulations and are quick to punish those who break them. This is a
bureaucratic way of handling a team and very effective for members who perform routine
tasks.

5. Inspiring and Motivating: Transformational Style

Today is your first day on your new job as a nurse at a medical facility. Your nurse preceptor
oriented you, and you noticed how she interacted with the team. She calls the attention of a
team member who is always absent, and you heard her talking to the nurse, I noticed that
your absences have increased lately. I understand that you are going through rough patches
in your life, but your job and your career could be your stepping stone in solving your

problems. You must endeavor to deliver the best performance you can give, and always
remember that we are always behind your back every step of the way.
This is the kind of preceptor that every nurse wants to have. The type of nurse preceptor
who is humble, emphatic, and inspiring. This nurse preceptor uses a transformational
leadership style. They expect the best from their team members and are highly
approachable. They also teach the team to be accountable for their actions and exhibits
good conflict resolution skills. This is probably the most effective style to use in handling a
team. But this style should always fit every situation the team is under; otherwise, it would
be less effective and would have less impact on the productivity of the team.
We always need to undergo a time where we should be guided so we could achieve the
optimum performance expected from us. We would encounter all sorts of managers and
leaders, and always remember to act with reason when dealing with every person. We
may like or dislike them, yet it is never a reason to disrespect and undermine their attitude.
They know what is ultimately good for the entire unit, and for now, we should be safely
ensconced under their wings until we learn how to fly high without them.