THE
TRANSFORMATI
VE LEADERSHIP
THEORY
THE PROPONENT
She is famous for being the first Filipina theorist for writing the
CASAGRA Transformative Leadership Model. The title of the theory
was derived from her name, CArolina S. AGRAvante.
She finished her secondary education at St. Paul Univeristy - Manila
(formerly St. Paul College - Manila) as class salutatorian.
In 1964, she earned her BS Nursing degree in the same school as
magna cum laude. In the same year, she passed the nurse licensure
examinations as the board topnotcher.
From 1967 to 1969, she studied Master’s Degree in Nursing
Education at Catholic University of America as a full-fledged scholar.
In 2002, she earned her Doctoral Degree in Philosophy at University
of the Philippines Manila - the same year her theory was published.
She served as the president of St. Paul University - Iloilo, where she
taught research subjects among senior students.
She was a former president of the Association of Deans of the
Philippines Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN) as she became the
representative in the International Nursing Congress that was held in
Brunei in 1996. A year after, she was a part of a delegation that
participated in the International Council of Nursing in Vancouver,
Canada.
Received a Service Award from the Philippine Accreditation Association
of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) for being one of the
accreditors.
One of the founding members of the Integrated Registered Nurses of the
Philippines (IRNP).
Currently, she is the President of St. Paul College - Ilocos Sur while
performing the duties of the Vice-President for Academics. Moreover,
she also functions as the program chair of the school's Department of
Nursing.
TITLE OF THE MODEL
The CASAGRA Transformative Leadership
Model: Servant – Leader Formula & the
Nursing Faculty’s Transformative Leadership
Behavior.
The theory “CASAGRA Transformative
Leadership” is a psycho spiritual model. It is
coined after the name of the investigator: Sr.
CArolina S. AGRAvante
TITLE OF THE MODEL
The model is a Three-Fold Transformation Leadership Concept rolled
into one, comprising of the following elements:
1. Servant-Leader Spirituality;
2. Self-Mastery expressed in a vibrant care complex;
3. Special Expertise level in the nursing field one is engaged in.
These elements rolled into one make-up the personality of the modern
professional nurse who will challenge the demands of these crucial
times in society today.
TITLE OF THE MODEL
The CASAGRA Transformative Leadership Theory is classified as a
Practice Theory basing on the characteristics of a Practice Theory
stated by McEwen (2007), which are the following:
a. Complexity / Abstractness, Scope - Focuses on a narrow view of reality,
simple and straightforward;
b. Generalizibility/Specificity - Linked to a special populations or an
identified field of practice;
c. Characteristic of Scope – Single, concrete concept that is operationalized;
d. Characteristic of Proposition – Propositions defined;
e. Testability – Goals or outcomes defined and testable;
f. Source of Development – Derived from practice or deduced from middle
range theory or grand theory.
PURPOSE
The present day demands in the nursing profession challenge nursing educators to revisit
their basic responsibility of educating professional nurses who are responsive
to technological, educational and social changes happening in the Philippines society
today. The reopening of the doors of foreign market to Filipino nurses, migration made
easy, attractive salaries and benefits way beyond what hospitals can afford to give.
Nursing education is faced with a new concern that is globalization of nursing services for
the international market. Therefore a need to develop globalization of care with focus on
developing caring nurses.
The formation of new nursing leaders is urgently needed; leaders with new vision who will
venture new traits and who have gone through new formation in order to serve the society
as professional nurse.
Nurses need competent leaders with a dream of what nursing can be, whose basic stand is
caring and service who are competent in nursing, assertive of their own rights with
the help profession.
MAIN PROPOSITIONS
-CASAGRA Transformative Leadership is a psycho-
spiritual model, was an effective means for faculty to
become better teachers and servant-leaders.
- Care complex is a structure in the personality of the
caregiver that is significantly related to the leadership
behavior.
- The CASAGRA servant-leadership formula is an effective
modality in enhancing the nursing faculty’s servant-
leadership behavior.
- Vitality of Care Complex of the nursing faculty is directly
related to leadership behavior.
Key Concepts
- The CASAGRA Transformative Leadership Model
have concepts of leadership from a psycho-spiritual
point of view, designed to lead to radical change from
apathy or indifference to a spiritual person.
- Servant-leader formula is the enrichment package
prepared as intervention for the study which has three
parts that parallel the three concepts of
the CASAGRA transformative leadership model,
namely: the care complex primer, a retreat-workshop on
Servant-leadership, and a seminar-workshop on
Transformative Teaching for nursing faculty.
- Special expertise is the level of competence in the
particular nursing area that the professional nurse is
engaged in workshop is the spiritual exercise organized in
an ambience of prayer where the main theme is the
contemplation of Jesus Christ as a Servant-leader.
- Servant-leadership behavior refers to the perceived
behavior of nursing faculty manifested through the ability
to model the servant leadership qualities to students,
ability to bring out the best in students, competence in
nursing skills, commitment to the nursing profession, and
sense of collegiality with the school, other health
professionals, and local community.
- Nursing leadership is the force within the nursing
profession that sets the vision for its practitioners, lays
down the roles and functions, and influences the direction
toward which the profession should go.
- Transformative teaching may also be termed Reflective
teaching, an umbrella term covering ideas, such as
thoughtful instruction, teacher research, teacher narrative,
and teacher empowerment.
- Care complex is the nucleus of care experiences in the
personality of a nurse formed by a combination of
maternal care experiences, culture based-care practices
indigenous to a race and people, and the professional
training on care acquired in a formal course of nursing.
Three-Fold Transformative Leader
Concept
I. The Servant-Leadership Spirituality here is prescribed to
run parallel to the generic elements of the transformative
leadership model.
This formula consists of a spiritual exercise, the determination
of the vitality of the care complex in the personality of an
individual and finally a seminar workshop on transformative
teaching.
The servant-leader formula prescription includes a spiritual
retreat that goes through the process of awareness,
contemplation, story telling, reflection, and finally commitment
to become servant-leaders in the footsteps of Jesus.
II. The Self-Mastery consistsof a vibrant care
complex possessed to a certain degree by all who
have been through formal studies in a care giving
profession such as nursing.
III. The Special-Expertise level
is shown in a
creative, caring, critical, contemplative and
collegial teaching of the nurse faculty who is
directly involved with the formation of the
nursing.
MEANING AND PARADIGM
Meaning of The Theory
Based on the study, the effect of the CASAGRA Leadership model
using the servant leader model on the leadership behavior of the
nursing faculty, the care complex in the personality of the nursing
faculty is highly correlated to their leadership behavior. The care
complex is necessary given as a stimulant in the performance of the
leadership activities. The leadership behavior of the faculty after
going to the servant leadership formula was significantly higher in
the two-post test periods than during the pre-test. It improved the
leadership behavior of the nursing faculty in both groups.
The Paradigm of the Theory
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework is logical because the variables are very
well explained on how transformative-leadership model be applicable
through care complex, transformative teaching servant-leader
spirituality, and servant-leader behavior.
A person with dynamic care complex is the cornerstone of nursing
leadership. According to care complex of Agravante, caring personality
rests on the possession of a care complex with in a person as an energy
source of caring.
The framework explains and predicts the continuous formation of
nursing leadership behavior in nursing faculty that will eventually
affect their teaching function.
Servant-leadership formula runs parallel to the
generic elements of the transformative-leadership
model.
Transformative teaching is the guide that desired
for the modern educative process designed to
form the millennium professional nurse.
Expertise is the practice of caring and proactive
in face of challenges for the profession go hand-
in-hand. Education and practice bring this about.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
- It provided the task of the formation of the
nurse leaders at the baccalaureate level so that
the profession assured the graduates possess the
mind and heart of a nursing leader who is of the
nursing profession.
- It can also be use in other educational settings
not just on nursing profession.
WEAKNESSES/LIMITATIONS
- CASAGRA transformative leadership limits only on
Roman Catholic and Christians nursing educators; it did
not consider other religion to this study. In the
Philippines we have a variety of religion present. Every
religion has its own traditions and practices to be
considered.
- According to the study, the control and study groups
were selected from the same faculty in the two schools, it
is highly possible that experience could have been
discussed casually in faculty room and in some way must
contaminated the intervention.
IMPLICATIONS TO NURSING
PRACTICE
As nurses practicing in the field, it is very common for nurses to take
on different roles. One of the common roles taken by the nurse
practitioner is the leadership role which is one of the topics discussed
in the CASAGRA Transformative Leadership Model by Sr. Carolina
S. Agravante. In our shifts, it is important that one of the nurses will
take on the lead, in our institution, it is the charge nurse who takes on
this role. The charge nurse will serve as the captain of the ship, so it
is vital that he or she take on the job with outmost care and
compassion.
While the charge nurse mainly serves leadership
functions, there are times that they also become
educators, especially to young nurses who are just
starting their careers. The servant-leader formula can be a
useful tool to charge nurses as this will enable them to
become leaders and educators while following the
footsteps of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Shifts are
unpredictable; it can be easy in the early hours but they
can become toxic as the hours progress. It is important
for the charge nurse to keep his vibrant care complex in
check, aspiring other nurses to lead and serving the others
to lead selflessly just like the way Jesus did.
IMPLICATIONS TO NURSING
EDUCATION
In Agravante's Theory of Transformative Leadership Model, she
initially mentioned the concept of servant-leadership spirituality. For
nurse educators, they can apply this concept by being passionate
about their craft. They can also show willingness to impart their
acquired knowledge to their students and colleagues in a selfless
way. These educators, contemplate first by attending a variety of
workshops regarding new trends in nursing, applying evidenced-
based practices through patient simulation, and cascading it to the
target learning group.
This concept was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf, and in the
later years, Larry S. Spears added that in order to
accomplish this concept, a servant leader should have the
following important characteristics:
1. Listening
2. Empathy
3. Healing
4. Awareness
5. Persuasion
6. Conceptualization
7. Foresight
8. Stewardship
9. Commitment to the growth of people
10. Building community
These characteristics including Agravante's
theory emulate how committed a servant leaders
are to their passion. Furthermore, this also
shows their eagerness to strengthen the personal
and professional well- being of their students
and colleagues. As a result, servant leaders
motivate their staff to bring out the best in them.
Moving forward, Agravante introduced her second concept
which is "The Self- Mastery." In spite of our world's
empirical culture wherein newly accepted norms that focus
on the external rather the internal or mental thought process,
people tend to have a direct reaction and an emotional
response. This theory aims to promote self- discovery by
knowing strengths and weakness as well as to practice
controlling internal thought processes that will eventually
influence emotions, ideas and behaviors. In the academe,
knowing one's strengths and weak points can help in
becoming a better individual and professional resulting to an
effective teaching on students and staff.
Lastly, Agravante introduced the concept of The Special
Expertise which states that it is the level of competence of
a professional nurse in the particular nursing area is
engaged into. In other words, professionals should be
aware on what area they are expert at. In nursing
education, the preceptorship program is essential for
learning of novice nurses in the unit. The preceptors must
educate newly hired nurses through hands -on experience,
and evidence-based practice as well as the demonstration
of personal values and character needed n the specific
unit. In addition, expectations and other activities are
subsequently done in the said unit.
IMPLICATIONS TO NURSING
ADMINISTRATION
The Casagra Transformational Leadership Model is
suitable for nursing educators, particularly those who are
administrators in the educational setting (Magallanes,
2009). It has a psycho-spiritual model which can be
utilized as a formula for faculty and administrators to
become better teachers and servant leaders.
The model is a powerful tool in achieving the organization’s vision
and mission as it is designed and aimed in developing a network of
innovative, competent and empowered educators towards excellence
and nation building. Since it is spiritual and religious, a paradigm of
peace is embedded to engage and prepare nursing administrators and
educators to modern world-challenges today. The theory is based on
Biblical teachings of Jesus Christ, which would impact on the ethical
practice that must be followed in the nursing field. In contrast, the
theory might not be accepted in Muslim countries as it is Bible-
Based and does not conform to diversities in culture, which might
face hesitation among other theorists, and scholars in the field of
Nursing particularly among those that are based in the GCC
countries. The theory is designed to transform a servant leader; an
example would be, Agravante possesses Jesus.
On the other hand, the effect of the CASAGRA
leadership model using the servant leader model on the
leadership behavior in the nursing facility is an effective
formula in organizing one direction in achieving
organizational goals. The servant leader formula is an
enrichment package prepared as intervention. It has three
parts that parallel the three concepts of the Casagra
transformative leadership model, namely: 1) the care
complex primer, 2) a retreat-workshop on servant
leadership and 3) a seminar workshop on Transformative
Teaching for nursing faculty.
The CASAGRA Transformation Leadership Theory is classified
as a Practice Theory basing on the characteristics of a Practice
Theory stated by McEwan (2007), which are the following:
- Complexity / Abstractness, Scope – Focuses on a narrow view
of reality, simple and straightforward
- Generalizability / Specificity – Linked to a special populations
or an identified field practice.
- Characteristic of Scope – Single, concrete concept that is
operationalized.
- Characteristic of Proposition – Propositions defined;
- Testability – Goals or outcomes defined and testable; and
- Source of Development – Derived from practice or deduced
from middle range theory or grand theory.
These functions, once utilized accordingly will be an
effective leadership tool in the nursing academe and
administration fields. And also would be applicable to
those who are interested to be a nursing educators in the
future. This theory can serve as a guide for nursing
administrators and teachers to learn something new, and
it would be beneficial to those who would like to learn
more about transformational leadership.
IMPLICATIONS TO NURSING
RESEARCH
Like other aspects of nursing, nursing research has been influenced
by recent and progressive changes in the health care system. The
CASAGRA Theory is one of these game changers. Sr. Agravante's
theory of Transformational Leadership Theory is focused primarily
on the educational and psycho-spiritual aspect of nursing. We
believe that Sr. Agravante emphasized the need for nursing faculty
specially trained to develop holistic nurses who will become leaders
in health service. There were no citations about its use in research
but her approach to the development of the theory can be modified
to include nurses with different religion and employ nursing
educators from a wider variety of schools to attain practicability.
However, the particular light on its spiritual aspect,
specifically Christianity that was used as its main subject
needs to be explored and studied further. It is essential that
nursing management fosters not only to a specific faith but
also to a broader spectrum of faith and tradition, in a society
where in there is an abundant number of beliefs and culture. It
can also help to develop an understanding of the ways in
which individuals engage in spiritual practice outside the
traditional religious setting. The theory identifies spirituality as
a beneficial variable in management, training or any other
scenario. Critical studies of nursing management involving
spiritual initiatives should be done for other religions or
systems of faith, aside from Christianity. This could add
considerably to the growing body of research and theory in this
field.
With the increasing demands for nurses that need to
surpass the ordinary practices of the current norms, not
only in the Philippines but all over the world, it is just in
time that we develop our new leaders that will protect
and nurture the quality of the nursing care. The concept
of CASAGRA Transformative Leadership model could
be of great help on the goal of developing a new set of
servant-leaders that are designed to transform them from
apathy or indifference to a spiritual person, embedded in
her greatest model, Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Sister Carolina Agravante’s CASAGRA Transformative
Leadership Theory focuses on the Three-Fold Transformative
Leadership Concept namely,
1) Servant-Leader Spirituality, wherein a leader, through spiritual
exercise, realizes that his model in caring for individual is Jesus;
2) Self-Mastery, which involves individual’s self-awareness through
formal education in nursing, a continuous education, seminars
attended and his involvement in organizations; and lastly,
3) Special Expertise, which draws emphasis in the nurse faculty’s
involvement in the formation of his students.
Indeed, Sr. Carolina’s CASAGRA
Transformative Leadership Theory is timely in
this ever fast-paced world. Nursing as a
profession is inevitably changing and the
demand to be at par with technology made it
more competitive. Nursing students need
nursing teachers to look up to. Embodied with
these three concepts, it is timely to put this
theory into practice.
