Abstract

Background/Significance: Although the influence of leadership style on empowerment and job satisfaction of the workforce has been documented, there are few researchers who examined the influence of the leader’s experience in developing not only their own leadership skills in the creation and sustainment of healthy work environments but to engage and “train up” the development of our future nurse leaders. The current nursing workforce is struggling with engagement and retention and the lack of interest in leadership in the emerging generations.

The empirical evidence supports of the creation of the healthy work environment whether it is a Magnet designated facility or not. There remains the continuing question: How do we develop future nurse leaders and equip them with the leadership skills necessary to create and sustain these healthy work environments in which the staff nurses thrive, promote excellence, the patients get the best quality care, and there is a sense of trust, stability, and empowerment?

Purpose: This researcher studied the lived experience of nurse leaders to understand the influences that guided their success. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 12 influential nurse leaders from the state of Arizona to better understand the influences and development of successful nurse leaders, how to develop the future leadership, and to better engage the younger generations. In essence, how can we speak their language?

Conclusions: Six themes emerged during the study: have and use your voice; take leadership on the “walk”; invest in yourself and others; you own the culture; development of own style; and mentoring, teaching, and coaching. The data analysis led to the development of the six themes with subthemes that have been further advanced to allure the future generations of leadership, promoting the development/sustainability of healthy work environments, and leadership skills engaging the next generation workforce.

Implications or Significance: As the development of future nurse leaders to be highly skilled in acute care settings is desired, the ability to affect the health care of the United States through leadership development by addressing the future generations of the healthcare workforce engagement is greater. This study may be used for positive social change to transform the work environments of patient care, to further develop leadership and health policy, and to overall affect patient outcomes.

Notes

References:
Elmore, T. (2020). The Pandemic Population. Growing Leaders.

Elmore, T. (2022). The New Kind of Diversity. Maxwell Leadership.

Mohammed, C. J., (2022). Lived experiences of nurse leaders (Publication No. 28969048) [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University], ProQuest, LLC.

Mohammed, C. J. (2022) Lived experiences of nurse leaders. Sigma Repository
https://www.sigmarepository.org/handle.net/10755/22560

Pearson, M. M. (2020). Transformational leadership principles and tactics for the nurse executive to shift nursing culture. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 50(3), 142–151. http://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000858

Pilat, M., & Merriam, D. H. (2019). Exploring the lived experiences of staff nurses transitioning to the nurse manager role. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(10), 509–513. http://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000795

Description

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of nurse leaders to determine the development of nurse leadership and engagement of younger generations. In essence, how can we speak their language?

Six themes emerged during the original study which led to further advancement of skills and engagement strategies to allure the future generations of leadership, promoting the development of healthy work environments, and leadership skills that attract the next generation workforce.

Author Details

Catherine J. Mohammed, PhD, MSN, MPhil, MN, RN, CNE

Sigma Membership

Chi at-Large

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Phenomenology

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Academic-Clinical Partnership, Workforce, Global Leadership

Conference Name

Creating Healthy Work Environments

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Conference Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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Reigniting the Passion: Alluring our Future Leaders

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Background/Significance: Although the influence of leadership style on empowerment and job satisfaction of the workforce has been documented, there are few researchers who examined the influence of the leader’s experience in developing not only their own leadership skills in the creation and sustainment of healthy work environments but to engage and “train up” the development of our future nurse leaders. The current nursing workforce is struggling with engagement and retention and the lack of interest in leadership in the emerging generations.

The empirical evidence supports of the creation of the healthy work environment whether it is a Magnet designated facility or not. There remains the continuing question: How do we develop future nurse leaders and equip them with the leadership skills necessary to create and sustain these healthy work environments in which the staff nurses thrive, promote excellence, the patients get the best quality care, and there is a sense of trust, stability, and empowerment?

Purpose: This researcher studied the lived experience of nurse leaders to understand the influences that guided their success. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 12 influential nurse leaders from the state of Arizona to better understand the influences and development of successful nurse leaders, how to develop the future leadership, and to better engage the younger generations. In essence, how can we speak their language?

Conclusions: Six themes emerged during the study: have and use your voice; take leadership on the “walk”; invest in yourself and others; you own the culture; development of own style; and mentoring, teaching, and coaching. The data analysis led to the development of the six themes with subthemes that have been further advanced to allure the future generations of leadership, promoting the development/sustainability of healthy work environments, and leadership skills engaging the next generation workforce.

Implications or Significance: As the development of future nurse leaders to be highly skilled in acute care settings is desired, the ability to affect the health care of the United States through leadership development by addressing the future generations of the healthcare workforce engagement is greater. This study may be used for positive social change to transform the work environments of patient care, to further develop leadership and health policy, and to overall affect patient outcomes.