title: Saving nursing: finding the courage to tell the truth.
abstract: How long does it take for a parent to regain trust in a 16-year-old who has taken the family car without permission and returned at 3 a.m. reeking of alcohol and offering the excuse that he fell asleep at a friend's house? How long does it take a leader to recover from promising never to eliminate positions and then eliminating them 6 months later? Most significantly, leadership effectiveness rests more on one's perceived trust-worthiness than on any level of education, financial savvy, writing skills, oratorical excellence, or technical skill. One moment of indiscreet dishonesty can destroy a healthy trusting relationship forever. For nurse leaders, high levels of integrity support highly functioning teams, respect, and willingness to address difficult situations--the ultimate retention strategy.
authors.affiliation: kathymalloch.com
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malloch
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D012647:Self-Assessment; D035502:Trust; D014342:Truth Disclosure