Rocchiccioli and Tilbury (1998) also site excellence in
clinical practice as an element of their perspective, but
add that it also involves an environment where staff are
empowered and where there is a vision for the future. Cook
and Holt (2000) capture all these perspectives and declare
that clinical leadership requires leadership skills for team
building, confidence and respect of others, as well as vision
and empowerment. They add that clinical leaders must also be
good communicators. Lett’s (2002, p20) definition is within
these parameters, indicating that ‘clinical leaders provide
vision to their followers and empower others’, adding that a
clinical leader is an ‘expert nurse who leads their followers to
better health and health care.’
Cook (2001b p39) also brings the definition back to a
nursing or clinical focus, declaring that a clinical leader is: