Evaluation of nurses’ leadership potential

Introduction. Social, economic and cultural transformations that occurred in the Polish society on the turn of 20th and 21st centuries are
followed by changes in other fields of social life, also in nursing. The practical activity performed by nurses defined as professional nursing
comprises tasks and occupational activities resulting from professional role of a nurse assigned to 9 professional functions. From every
professional nurse the range of these functions requires competency and skills conditioned by considerable leadership potential, regardless
what position she occupies, because leadership is treated as a state of being characterized by ability of learning, being open and consciously
reacting to challenges of one’s milieu.

Aim of the study. The aim of the research was to evaluate the leadership potential of nurses as a professional group.

Material and methods. The research was carried out with the method of diagnostic opinion poll with the use of a questionnaire in a group
of 125 nurses.

Results and conclusions. Analysis of the research material allowed to state that the examined nurses demonstrate sufficient level of leadership
potential, which may be conducive to difficulties in performing their role of professional nurses.

Nursing Topics 2010; 18 (2): 145-150