Other Titles

Reflect on the Future of Nurse Leadership: The Importance of Caring and Shared Decision Making in Leadership [Title Slide]

Abstract

Purpose Statement: There is a gap in the literature related to leadership behaviors with a caring component unique to the nursing profession. Nurses require leaders who support caring, honesty, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, and approach situations with moral and ethical transparency.

Background Information: Nurse leaders who model the attributes of the authentic nurse leader support a healthy work-life balance and enhance nurse engagement. One of the most important focuses of leadership in healthcare today is shared decision-making. The Authentic Nurse Leadership theoretical framework is based on Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring. Significance Learning more about the self-perception of authentic nurse leadership and shared decision-making from clinical nurses and nurse managers is necessary in all practice areas. The findings from this baseline study may provide insight for future nursing leadership development.

Methods: A convenience sample of clinical nurses and nurse managers was used for this research study. A self-report electronic survey, (Demographic Questionnaire, Authentic Nurse Leader Questionnaire (ANLQ), and Decisional Involvement Scale (DIS) was distributed to all clinical nurses and nurse managers of NSUH via their work email. The data from the subjective responses were analyzed. Results: A total of 361 clinical nurses and nurse managers completed the electronic survey. Nurses' highest score on the ANLQ was caring. The third-highest average response was shared decision-making. This behavior recognizes the ideas of others and bases decisions with ethical consideration.

Implications for Practice: The findings from this study provide evidence of the strengths and weaknesses in leadership behaviors of nurses. Caring is unique to the nursing profession and essential for patient needs and health care outcomes. Nurses must be self-aware of their values, beliefs, and insights to engage and motivate others. Future nursing leadership development must support work environments as being honest, trustworthy, respectful, communicative, and responsive to the needs of the nursing profession. The findings from the DIS report show a need for improved shared decision-making in all areas and levels of nursing practice. Increasing nursing involvement in decision-making may benefit the well-being of patients, healthcare organizations, and the nursing profession.

Notes

References:

Ahmad, M., Tabar, N.A., Othman, E. H. & Abdelrahim, Z. (2020). Shared decision-making measures: A systematic review. Quality management in Health Care, 29(2), 54-66. https://doi.org/10.1097/qmh.0000000000000250

Carryer, J. (2020). Letting go of our past to claim our future. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(3-4),287-289.

Description

The authentic nurse leader supports a healthy work-life balance and enhanced nurse engagement. A self-report electronic survey was distributed to a convenience sample of 361 clinical nurses and nurse managers. The findings from this study provide evidence of the strengths and weaknesses in leadership behaviors of clinical nurses and nurse managers. Leadership program development may assist with problem solving, shared vision for organizational goals, and providing an empowering work environment.

Author Details

Ann Langan DNP, RN, NPD-BC; Christine Fardellone DNP, RN

Sigma Membership

Epsilon Kappa

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Cross-Sectional

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Acute Care, Workforce, Leadership, Workforce Planning and Development

Conference Name

48th Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, 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. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2025-11-19

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Reflect and Respond on the Importance of Caring and Shared Decision Making in Leadership Development

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Purpose Statement: There is a gap in the literature related to leadership behaviors with a caring component unique to the nursing profession. Nurses require leaders who support caring, honesty, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, and approach situations with moral and ethical transparency.

Background Information: Nurse leaders who model the attributes of the authentic nurse leader support a healthy work-life balance and enhance nurse engagement. One of the most important focuses of leadership in healthcare today is shared decision-making. The Authentic Nurse Leadership theoretical framework is based on Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring. Significance Learning more about the self-perception of authentic nurse leadership and shared decision-making from clinical nurses and nurse managers is necessary in all practice areas. The findings from this baseline study may provide insight for future nursing leadership development.

Methods: A convenience sample of clinical nurses and nurse managers was used for this research study. A self-report electronic survey, (Demographic Questionnaire, Authentic Nurse Leader Questionnaire (ANLQ), and Decisional Involvement Scale (DIS) was distributed to all clinical nurses and nurse managers of NSUH via their work email. The data from the subjective responses were analyzed. Results: A total of 361 clinical nurses and nurse managers completed the electronic survey. Nurses' highest score on the ANLQ was caring. The third-highest average response was shared decision-making. This behavior recognizes the ideas of others and bases decisions with ethical consideration.

Implications for Practice: The findings from this study provide evidence of the strengths and weaknesses in leadership behaviors of nurses. Caring is unique to the nursing profession and essential for patient needs and health care outcomes. Nurses must be self-aware of their values, beliefs, and insights to engage and motivate others. Future nursing leadership development must support work environments as being honest, trustworthy, respectful, communicative, and responsive to the needs of the nursing profession. The findings from the DIS report show a need for improved shared decision-making in all areas and levels of nursing practice. Increasing nursing involvement in decision-making may benefit the well-being of patients, healthcare organizations, and the nursing profession.