Leadership and teamwork

Abstract Good nursing leadership means better patient care, and good leaders are essential for safe, effective care. It is important that general adult nurses are aware of the nature and principles of leadership, and the leadership skills and attributes which are relevant to nursing care delivery. Exploring these issues will support nurses in reflecting on their role and responsibilities, examining how, as a leader of care, they can enhance nursing practice and improve the patient experience, and how they can develop their own leadership skills. In addition, the importance of teamworking has been long recognized in healthcare, with nurses working both as part of a nursing team and as members of the wider multidisciplinary team. Whether healthcare is necessary for an acute illness episode, helping someone with a long-term health condition achieve an acceptable level of function, or supporting a person who is dying, placing people at the centre of care decisions demands effective leadership and teamwork. This chapter considers the broad principles of leadership which are relevant to general adult nursing practice, and also outlines the definitions and characteristics of effective teamwork.