Listening to Nursing Leaders

A national survey instrument is used to examine the characteristics of nurse managers identified as excellent nurse leaders by their staff to assess aspects of leadership that helps create a healthy work environment that supports nurses' provision of quality care at the bedside.

Abstract

There are varying and overlapping leadership characteristics that exemplify excellence in nursing leadership. To assess aspects of leadership that helps create a healthy work environment that supports nurses' provision of quality care at the bedside, the authors used a national survey instrument to examine the characteristics of nurse managers identified as excellent nurse leaders by their staff. The authors discuss their findings and a proposed theoretical model to explain specific nursing leadership characteristics that support staff nurse job satisfaction and retention.