Nursing Leadership: Thriving Personally and Professionally — Not Just Surviving

Have you ever paused to think about what it truly means to thrive? In nursing, it can often feel like you’re simply surviving from one shift to the next due to managing responsibilities, caring for others, and juggling work-life balance. But thriving means more than making it through the day. It means feeling energized, purposeful, and fulfilled in both your professional and personal life.

In their article “Nurse Leaders Thriving: A Conceptual Model and Strategies for Application” (2023), Frangieh et al. remind us that thriving is not a luxury. It’s essential for sustainable, effective leadership. And in nursing, every nurse is a leader, whether at the bedside, managing a unit, coordinating programs, or serving as a Chief Nursing Officer. How we engage with our peers, patients, teams, and even our loved ones often reflects whether we are thriving or merely surviving.

The Foundation of Thriving

According to Frangieh et al. (2023), thriving is rooted in psychological and organizational research and centers around two interdependent dimensions:

• Vitality – Feeling alive, energetic, and engaged in your work.

• Learning – Continuously growing in knowledge and skills, and applying them in meaningful ways.

  
  

These two dimensions feed one another. When nurses feel both energized and challenged, they grow personally and professionally, and that growth ripples throughout the organization. Nurse leaders, in particular, must cultivate both vitality and learning not only for themselves but also for their teams.

The Conceptual Model of Thriving

Frangieh et al. (2023) expanded on previous work to develop a conceptual model of thriving as a continuum with four key components of well-being:

1. Social - e.g., having support & meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging

2. Psychological - e.g., having a positive outlook on life, stable mental health

3. Emotional - e.g., the ability to regulate emotions

4. Cognitive - e.g., perform to the fullest capacity of one’s mental capabilities

When these four areas are in balance, nurse leaders experience greater positivity and satisfaction both at work and beyond. Consider how a difficult day at work can easily spill into your personal life. Whether it’s a tense patient interaction, a frustrating staff meeting, or yet another budget cut, those challenges test a leader’s resilience. Thriving leaders are those who respond with emotional intelligence, optimism, and confidence in their ability to lead through adversity.

6 Strategies Nurse Leaders Can Use to Thrive at Work

1. Adopt Self-Care and Wellness Habits 

Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential. Caring for your mind, body, and spirit replenishes your energy and allows you to support others more effectively.

2. Commit to Lifelong Professional Development 

Seek opportunities to learn, grow, and refine your skills. Ongoing education enhances confidence and performance, ensuring you stay inspired and relevant.

3. Cultivate Emotional Intelligence 

Be aware of how you respond to people and situations. Develop tools such as empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution to strengthen relationships and trust.

4. Utilize a Relational Leadership Style 

Authentic, servant, and transformational leadership styles foster collaboration, respect, and communication — key ingredients for a healthy workplace and safe patient care.

5. Engage in Mentoring and Coaching 

Seek guidance from experienced mentors and offer mentorship to newer nurses. Role modeling leadership behaviors strengthens the profession and nurtures future nurse leaders.

6. Develop a Positive Mindset 

Attitude is everything. Reflection, gratitude, and journaling can help build resilience and perspective, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.

(Frangieh et al., 2023)

Final Thoughts

Nursing leadership at every level is a lifelong journey of growth and purpose. The tools for success come from both your inner drive and the support of your environment. By applying the principles shared here, you can continue to evolve as a leader, one who inspires others and shapes the future of nursing.

How have you strengthened your leadership skills? Share your experiences and innovations—your story could inspire another nurse to lead with courage and compassion.

Reference 

Frangieh, J., Hughes, V., & Mewborn, E. (2023). Nurse leaders thriving: A conceptual model and strategies for application. Nursing Management, 54(10), 18–26.