The need for nursing leadership in uncertain times.
BACKGROUND
The world today is changing and being affected by advances in technology and communication, as well as changes in the political, economic, demographic and social environment. These changes also effect the delivery of health care services.


OBJECTIVE
A review of the literature was conducted to examine how the profession of nursing can ensure that it is involved in shaping the health care system of the future. KEY ISSUES TO EMERGE: The nursing profession requires leadership which empowers nurses, enabling them to lead the profession into the next millennium. Pressures for change in health care delivery make the move from bureaucratic management to effective leadership essential. Development of an appropriate model of leadership will ensure that nurses play a pivotal role in the process of change.


CONCLUSIONS
Transformational leadership is the model that will assist nursing to develop into an empowered profession with the potential to be a dominant voice in reshaping the health care system of the future.
Sofarelli
D
D
Faculty of Nursing, University of Technology, Lindfield, NSW, Australia.
Brown
D
D
D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005544:Forecasting; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017009:Professional Autonomy