The New Leadership Challenge: Creating the Future of Nursing » (3rd Edition)

To help nurses explore their leadership potential and to use their skills for professional advancement, Grossman (Fairfield U.) and Valiga (National League for Nursing) describe the characteristics of a leader and a follower and indicate when to use each role. The authors stress the differences between leadership and management and the need for conscious effort in developing leadership skills. This second edition includes annotated summaries of books on leadership in fields other than nursing. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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Reviewer:Vicki Ann Moss, DNSc, MS, BSN, RN(University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
Description:This revised book provides readers with tools to explore leadership potential and ways to use the tools to advance professionally. The authors do not confuse leadership with management. They gear the information to the future environment of healthcare and discuss the skills nurses will need to lead in that ever-changing environment.
Purpose:The purpose is to serve as a resource for nurses and nursing students in exploring the "multidimensional concept of 'leadership'" (p. xv). Its aims are to help nurses see themselves as leaders and to develop leadership skills to use in current and future healthcare environments.
Audience:This book is written for undergraduate and graduate nursing students as well as nurses in clinical practice, nurse educators, and nurse administrators.
Features:This book includes 10 chapters with titles such as "The Nature of Leadership: Distinguishing Leadership from Management"; "The New World and New Leadership: Changing our Thinking about Leadership"; "Gender Perspectives in Leadership"; and "Shaping a Preferred Future for Nursing". Each chapter includes learning objectives, critical thinking exercises, and quotes from leaders about leadership. The appendix is an extensive annotated bibliography of the major works on leadership. Several questionnaires are also included which assess the readers' leadership abilities. An instructor's guide accompanies the book, providing many teaching approaches related to leadership.
Assessment:This is a book that faithfully discusses leadership rather than management. It is filled with cartoons and quotes from famous leaders, which by themselves make it an interesting read. I agree with the authors that it is "interactive, stimulating, creative, challenging, and thought-provoking (p. xvii). It has merit for novice nurses as well as seasoned veterans.