In this study, clinical leadership at the clinical level is demonstrated through the
enactment of the five leadership practices described in the Kouzes and Posner's (1995)
model of leadership: (1) Challenging the Process, (2) Inspiring a Shared Vision, (3)
Modeling the Way, (4) Enabling Others to Act, and (5) Encouraging the Heart. As
clinical leaders, staff nurses demonstrate these practices using behaviours to collaborate,
coordinate and influence colleagues, members of the interprofessional healthcare team,
patients and family members to achieve patient goals. The Kouzes and Posner (1995)
leadership model has received considerable support in the nursing literature when
describing formal leadership practices and provides a useful means of examining clinical
leadership at the staff nurse level. The model will be described in detail in the literature
section of this dissertation.