Lead from the Bedside – Part 1
The unit was slammed. We were short staffed, and a patients had just coded. Everyone was on edge… And yet—amid the chaos—I watched a nurse quietly step in to lead. She comforted a panicked family member, ran meds during the code, and later circled back to check on a shaken tech. She didn’t have a fancy title. But make no mistake: she was leading.
So let me ask you this:
What if the best leaders in healthcare don’t have an office or a badge that says “Manager”?
Because real leadership isn’t a job title. It’s influence. It’s action. It’s who you are when things get hard.
Redefining What It Means to Lead
Too often, we equate leadership with hierarchy. But the truth? Leadership starts right where you are. It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room—it’s about using your voice to lift others, protect patients, and make the system a little better than you found it.
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek
If you’ve ever stepped up to advocate for a patient, coached a colleague, or helped calm the storm during a hectic shift—you’re already leading.
5 Signs You’re Leading From the Bedside
You might not realize it, but here’s how leadership shows up in scrubs:
- You stay calm when the unit is in chaos.
- You speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
- You support your team—especially the ones who are struggling.
- You look for solutions instead of complaining about problems.
- Others look to you for guidance—even informally.
Take a second: when’s the last time you did one of those things? That’s leadership.
Small Actions, Big Impact
You don’t need a clipboard to make change. Start here:
- Lead a quick huddle before a shift to align the team.
- Offer to mentor a new nurse—even just one lunch together makes a difference.
- Create a “pause moment” after tough cases to help your team process what happened.
The magic isn’t in the size of your actions. It’s in their consistency.
What Leadership Isn’t
Let’s bust a few myths while we’re at it:
- It’s not about having all the answers.
- It’s not bossing others around.
- And it’s definitely not about being above bedside care.
The best leaders serve. They listen. They advocate. They model what right looks like—even when no one’s watching.
Lead Like a Rogue
You don’t have to wait for a title to start making waves.
You’re already showing up. You’re already making a difference. And that quiet strength? That’s leadership.
Reflection prompt:
When was the last time you led from the bedside—whether someone noticed or not?
Coming up next: Part 2 – Leading with Emotional Intelligence (Even When You’re on the Edge)
~The Rogue RN