20 | Nursing in Practice | Winter 2022
PROFESSIONAL
Compassionate leadership :
what it means for nurses
Richard Burnell unpicks three common myths about compassionate leadership in everyday practice
The most recent NHS People Plan set out an expectation that organisations will use compassionate leadership to build and create a sensitive and inclusive culture for all staff and patients . 1
Compassion is at the core of the ‘ 6Cs ’ model of nursing but it is a nuanced and potentially complex concept to apply in practice . Furthermore , when compassion is spoken about in the context of leadership , it is easy to think that it applies only to staff at senior levels .
However , compassionate leadership is something that applies to all nurses regardless of their role . The way compassion is expressed will vary depending on the type of job a nurse does , but the fundamental principles are the same for everyone .
Compassion is at the core of the ‘ 6Cs ’ model of nursing but it is a nuanced and potentially complex concept interests . They trust nurses with deeply personal information and they allow them into their homes , often when they are at their most frail .
In addition to being seen as leaders by patients , all nurses also have a duty of candour that can require them to lead in the workplace . This may involve raising concerns if there are clinical incidents , speaking up as a patient ’ s advocate and , in certain circumstances , even whistleblowing . These actions all entail taking the lead , and compassionate leadership should be at the core of every nurse ’ s practice .
It is clear that compassionate leadership is an important attribute for nurses in senior roles , but it is important to remember there is considerable leadership overlap that all nurses at all levels share .
All nurses are leaders A leader can be defined as someone who has charge over a group or organisation . They are a person others look to for advice , knowledge and instruction , and also someone who can be confided in and trusted .
While care is always given with consent , patients and service users still see nurses as people in positions of authority . They rely on nurses to give them good care , offer them advice , keep them safe and act in their best
Why is compassionate leadership important ? There is a belief that too much compassion can be a weakness and that those practising it become vulnerable to exploitation . However , this is a social construct for which there is little supporting evidence . 2 By contrast , there is overwhelming evidence of a significant benefit to healthcare staff , organisations and managers where compassionate leadership is a consistent feature of everyday practice .³
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