Effective Followership
Supporting the team while using critical thinking and professional judgment.
What does it mean to be an effective follower?
Ask an experienced nurse for guidance and support.
What should a new graduate nurse do when they don't know how to perform a task?
Good communication, trust, respect, or teamwork.
What are good qualities of a strong team member?
No, nurses can demonstrate leadership through initiative and their actions.
Does a nurse need to be in a formal leadership position to show leadership?
Patient safety.
What should always be a priority when making nursing decisions?
Communication, assertiveness, engagement, or willingness to learn
What is a quality of an effective follower?
People skills, bedside manner, and interprofessional communication.
What are soft skills in nursing?
Take accountability, communicate appropriately, and report it according to policy.
What should nurses do if they make a mistake?
Take initiative, help colleagues, ask questions, or advocate for patients.
How can a new grad demonstrate leadership?
Stop and seek appropriate help or supervision.
What should a nurse do if they feel unsafe performing a procedure?
Important for patient safety as it clarifies uncertainty and prevents mistakes
Why is asking questions important for patient safety?
Seek feedback, ask questions, practice skills, or take initiative.
What is one way a new graduate nurse can take responsibility for professional growth?
Offer mentorship, answer questions, give constructive feedback, and provide learning opportunities.
How can experienced nurses support new graduates?
Respectfully raising concerns and explaining them with a focus on safety and evidence.
What does it mean to challenge leadership constructively?
It helps identify areas for improvement and supports professional development.
Why is constructive feedback important for new graduates?
An effective follower uses critical thinking instead of automatically following instructions
What is the difference between being a follower and blindly following orders?
To provide safe care and recognize when they need assistance.
Why should a new grad recognize their scope of practice and limitations?
Evidence, respectful communication, clinical judgment, and patient safety.
Two nurses disagree about a patient's care. What should guide their discussion?
Listen to their ideas, involve them in discussions, and allow safe learning opportunities.
How can a senior nurse help a new grad build confidence?
The nurse may fail to question unsafe decisions, report concerns, or prevent errors.
Why can being a passive follower put patients at risk?
It encourages communication, teamwork, shared decision-making, and speaking up about safety concerns
How can effective followership improve patient outcomes?
Pause, assess the concern, clarify the order, and seek appropriate guidance before proceeding.
A new grad is unsure about a medication order but feels pressured by a senior nurse. What should they do?
Raise concerns with leadership, examine biases, and work together to improve care and accountability.
How can a team respond when staff notice a harmful attitude toward a group of patients?
Clearly communicate the concern, use the appropriate escalation process, and continue advocating for patient safety.
A physician dismisses a nurse's concern about a deteriorating patient. What should the nurse do?
Do not blindly follow the instruction. Assess the risk, explain the concern, and escalate appropriately to protect the patient.
A senior nurse tells a new grad to follow a routine that the new grad believes could harm the patient. What is the safest response?