Dickson, CarolineMcVittie, ChrisSmith, Margaret Coulter2020-04-172020-04-172020-05-07Dickson, C., McVittie, C. & Smith, M. C. (2020) Being conductor of the orchestra: An exploration of district nursing leadership. British Journal of Community Nursing, 25(5), pp. 214-221.1462-4753https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/10586https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.5.214Chris McVittie - ORCID 0000-0003-0657-7524 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0657-7524Margaret Smith - ORCID 0000-0003-2944-5348 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2944-5348The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into how district nurses understand their leadership role. Data were generated through interviews and audio-journals and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Findings suggested that district nurses managing teams and caseloads experienced a burden of responsibility. Being creative problem solvers, they adopted facilitative ways of engaging with patients but directive approaches to team management. District nurses sharing leadership with multidisciplinary colleagues did not appear to experience this burden. Their leadership drew on their facilitative approaches to care-giving. If nurses enabled, rather than directed teams, they could create a context for developing autonomy and growth, easing the burden of responsibility.214-221enThis document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in British Journal of Community Nursing, copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.5.214District NursingLeadershipAutonomyInterpretive Phenomenological AnalysisCaseload ManagementArticle