After completing my interview with Melissa, I learned that leadership is all about working as a team and making it known that we are all here for each other. Most authoritarian leaders are not fully successful especially in the healthcare system due to the fact that people are scared to approach these types of leaders. When in truth, everyone should have their center focus on the patient and their well-being, and work as a part of the healthcare team in order to provide the best care. I feel that through observation of Melissa’s leadership and experiencing it first-hand, I knew a lot about her leadership style already and appreciated it compared to other bosses I’ve had. I was surprised at how much Melissa referred to her CNA’s as the same level as her and not as her subordinates. She truly made it feel that we were a team working to provide the best care for the residents at Atria rather than her being the “top of the food chain.” Before the interview with Melissa, I knew that her leadership style was not authoritarian, and it was more democratic as she would always ask our opinion on certain situations and if we had suggestions or ideas, she would always take them into consideration. Her responses definitely solidified my thoughts about her leadership before the interview even happened. 

I truly appreciated Melissa’s time and information she was able to give me about successful leadership. I will continue to use this information as I move into my nursing career as I will be working with CNA’s as well and I don’t want them to feel as they are inferior to me. I want to make my CNA’s feel as though they can approach me with any issue, suggestion or idea in order to provide the best care for our patient as possible and that I will do my best to incorporate their ideas into care. I want them to feel like a recognized part of the healthcare team as I know first-hand that sometimes they can be pushed to the side and not taken into consideration despite the fact that CNA’s spend the most time with the patients. I also hope to eventually take on a leadership role within my unit or in general. I want to be a democratic leader and use strategies and styles like Melissa in order to work as a team and create not only a positive work environment for everyone but also to provide the best care for the patient.