Includes bibliographical references and index.

What is leadership? -- What is management? -- Leadership versus management -- A positive definition of power -- Accountability in nursing leadership -- What is communication? -- Communication skills -- Decision-making and time management tools -- Change management skills -- Conflict resolution skills -- Team building skills -- Managing first-line patient care -- Strategic thinking to improve patient care (including evidence-based care) -- Managing patient care and outcomes through improving organization quality -- Managing and supporting excellence in staff performance -- Nurses as professional leaders inside and outside the health care organization -- Current healthcare environment (and into the future) -- Nursing leaders influencing politics and acting as patient advocates -- Nursing leadership and collective bargaining -- Delegation -- Current and future opportunities for nurse leaders -- Legal aspects of nursing leadership -- Ethical issues in nursing leadership -- Ten ways to become a leader.