The principle of Unity of Command, introduced by Henri Fayol as one of his 14 Principles of Management, states that each employee should receive orders from only one superior. This prevents confusion, conflicting instructions, and breakdown of authority.

In nursing management, violating this principle leads to:

• Role confusion among staff nurses
• Conflicting priorities
• Poor accountability
• Staff stress and burnout

A Head Nurse must establish a clear chain of command to maintain effective nursing service delivery.