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. 2022 May 30:56:e20210553.
doi: 10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2021-0553en. eCollection 2022.

Leadership in Nursing and Health Care in the Light of Complexity Thinking

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Dirce Stein Backes  1 , Regina Celia de Castro Gomes  1 , Irani Rupolo  1 , Andreas Büscher  2 , Maria Júlia Pais da Silva  3 , Carla Lizandra de Lima Ferreira  1
Affiliations

Leadership in Nursing and Health Care in the Light of Complexity Thinking

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Dirce Stein Backes et al. Rev Esc Enferm USP. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese, Spanish

This study aims to perform a critical-reflective analysis of leadership in nursing and health in the light of complexity thinking. This is a theoretical-reflexive essay based on the framework of complexity thinking. A parallel is conceived between traditional Cartesian leadership, outlined from a defined linear hierarchical structure, and leadership from a systemic-complex perspective. A schematic structure is demonstrated between the pyramidal conception and systemic-complex leadership, leading to circularity, complementarity, interdependence, and interactivity. Leadership's central role in nursing and health care is reaffirmed based on interactive, dialogic, and interdependent movements. The theoretical reflection calls for evolutionary and shared leadership in nursing and health, determined by the quality of interactions between members and different systems, in order to respond to the complexity of health phenomena quickly, effectively, and sustainably.

Objetiva-se realizar análise crítico-reflexiva sobre a liderança em enfermagem e saúde, à luz do pensamento da complexidade. Ensaio teórico-reflexivo alicerçado no referencial do pensamento da complexidade. Concebe-se um paralelo entre a liderança tradicional cartesiana, esboçada a partir de uma estrutura hierárquica linear definida e a liderança na perspectiva sistêmico-complexa. Demonstra-se uma estrutura esquemática entre a concepção piramidal e a liderança sistêmico-complexa que conduz à circularidade, complementaridade, interdependência e interatividade. Reafirma-se o papel central da liderança em enfermagem e saúde, a partir de movimentos interativos, dialógicos e interdependentes. A reflexão teórica convoca à liderança evolutiva e compartilhada em enfermagem e saúde, determinada pela qualidade das interações entre os membros e os diferentes sistemas, no sentido de responder à complexidade dos fenômenos de saúde de forma rápida, eficaz e sustentável.

El objetivo es realizar un análisis crítico-reflexivo del liderazgo de enfermería y salud a la luz del pensamiento de la complejidad. Este es un ensayo teórico-reflexivo basado en el referencial del pensamiento de la complejidad. Se establece un paralelismo entre el liderazgo tradicional cartesiano, esbozado desde una estructura jerárquica lineal definida y el liderazgo, desde una perspectiva sistémica-compleja. Se demuestra una estructura esquemática entre la concepción piramidal y el liderazgo sistémico-complejo que conduce a la circularidad, la complementariedad, la interdependencia y la interactividad. Se reafirma el papel central del liderazgo en la enfermería y la salud, desde movimientos interactivos, dialógicos e interdependientes. La reflexión teórica reclama un liderazgo evolutivo y compartido en la enfermería y la salud, determinado por la calidad de las interacciones entre los miembros y los diferentes sistemas para responder a la complejidad de los fenómenos sanitarios de forma rápida, eficaz y sostenible.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Pyramid structure and systemic-complex approach to leadership. Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, 2021.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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