Critical Incidents of Nimble, Caring Leaders: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

The story needs to be told of nurse leaders' caring actions when responding quickly to challenging situations experienced by staff nurses. This descriptive design study used qualitative methods to analyze leaders' nimble, caring actions during critical incidents reported by 12 registered nurses (RNs). Leaders supported nurses by rapidly identifying patients in crisis and RNs in stress. They shared RN assignments and averted crises. Leaders taught nursing staff and influenced reduced nurse–patient ratios. Recorders described nurse leaders' rapid assessment of unit flow and consistent support of nursing staff. RNs respected leaders for doing more than expected. Leaders' contributions need to be increasingly recognized.