Nurse managers and leaders – should there be a difference?

When nurses become managers, they may not always have the experience for the job – which is why education in and exposure to compassionate leadership is vital

What is the difference between a manager and a leader? All organisations need a manager, but they benefit from leaders.

The question is, when nurses become managers, are they managing, leading or both?

Leaders push people for the benefit of the people and the team

Not everyone can be a manager, as this is usually a senior role involving the management of a team of people and dealing with concerns, complaints, disciplinary action and leave.

In contrast, a leader can be anyone in a team, from the manager