The importance of leadership to the effective provision of
health care is unquestionable, as is the centrality of leadership
to nursing, not only at formal management level, but at all
grades, from student nurse to director of nursing/matron.
Therefore, it is now apparent that leadership is not only a
function of management but is something that should pervade
professional nursing practice. It seems logical to conclude that
the development of excellence in nursing leadership should,
therefore, begin at the earliest stages of basic nursing education
and training.The evidence is otherwise, however—despite the
fact that the professional literature has, for some time, indicated
that leadership is an essential part of nursing practice and that all
nurses’ roles are, in one way or other, leadership roles.
In the second and concluding article on this subject, the
authors will further explore the role that nurse education and
training could play in the development of nursing leadership.In
doing so, the authors will seek to challenge nursing educators
and service providers, responsible for the wider educational
development of nurses, to consider the implications of our
recommendations