Carspecken's critical approach as a way to explore nursing leadership issues

Abstract

Nursing leaders are attempting to provide effective support for staff as well as optimal client care in the most challenging of times for the health care industry globally. Regardless of where leaders practice, their health care setting will have its own socially constructed way of getting the work done. In this article the authors suggest Carspecken's critical methodology, particularly his use of the pragmatic horizon, as a useful method to assist leaders in recognizing their own behaviors as a first step to providing leadership that is more emancipatory. The aim of this reflection and resulting action is increasing leadership effectiveness to improve health care outcomes.