Nurse Leader

Nurse leaders live in a world of intense chaos. Now more than ever, the workplace environment is undergoing impressive and radical change. Forces have left the nurse leader with more tasks at hand, more meetings to attend, and more relationships to cultivate with less time to accomplish everything than ever before. How is one to achieve a sense of balance or harmony? How can a nurse leader succeed in this environment of increasing demands? Nursing leaders are not only part of, but they are role models for today's changing work force. In order to build an engaged, healthy and productive work force, nurse leaders must first emulate these same characteristics. This article will consider consequences of increasing pressure of changing health care roles and job stress followed by a review of the relationship between the mind and the body. An examination of the influence of culture and gender follows. A strategy of prioritizing the “self” first while creating a healthy lifestyle will be discussed. Lastly, specific approaches and alternatives intended to help nurse leaders achieve this balance will be recommended.