A patient is found unresponsive and pulseless. The nurse begins cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and calls for help. When help arrives, the nurse should take on which role?

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Although autocratic leadership is a strict form of leadership, it is useful in crisis situations. A nurse may act as an autocratic leader when taking charge after a patient is found unresponsive. In this situation, it is helpful to have a leader who takes control and directs other members of the health care team. Democratic leaders may see themselves as equals with other team members and may consult with other nurses, exhibiting a democratic form of leadership. This style of leadership can be used in unit council meetings where nurses collaborate to identify solutions to common problems. A nurse in a leadership position who uses the laissez-faire style of leadership assigns patient care and expects all team members to set goals for the day and manage their time to complete the assignment. Successful implementation of this leadership style in nursing requires a highly efficient and reliable staff, such as seen in some specialized OR nursing teams with a history of working together on a set type of cases. The bureaucratic leader relies on policies and procedures to direct goals and work processes. The nurse using bureaucratic leadership tends to relate impersonally to staff and exercises power on the basis of established rules.

A Patient Is Found Unresponsive and Pulseless