Which action on the part of the nurse constitutes transactional leadership?

Transactional leadership is characterized by a focus on reward and punishment as part of the management process. In this model, leaders clarify their expectations and provide feedback to team members based on their performance. The nurse rewarding a licensed practitioner nurse for high performance aligns perfectly with this concept, as it directly ties performance outcomes to tangible recognition or rewards.

This strategy creates a clear framework where team members understand that their efforts will be acknowledged and rewarded in accordance with their contributions, fostering motivation and adherence to established expectations. By emphasizing performance-based rewards, the nurse engages in behaviors that define transactional leadership, promoting accountability within the team while focusing on maintaining the effectiveness of operations.

In contrast, the other options reflect different leadership styles. Providing support to team members and encouraging collaborative decision-making are more indicative of transformational or participative leadership, which seeks to inspire and engage the team beyond mere compliance. Listening actively to team feedback highlights a more communicative and inclusive approach, which may not necessarily fit within the transactional framework of leadership.