Abstract
There are many leadership development programs, but only a few focus on nurses' unique perspectives. The project site had leadership development programs for aspiring nurse leaders, a leadership core for newly appointed nurse leaders, and executive coaching for executive-level nurse leadership. A need was identified for a leadership development program focused on nurse managers. This project designed, implemented, and evaluated a leadership development program for nurse managers to apply the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. The project goal was to increase nurse manager application of the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership to operationalize transformational leadership principles and foster Joy in Work. The leadership development program consisted of an in-person education session, participant completion of the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) Self-Empowered self-assessment tool, an LPI report review and action-planning session, a midpoint check-in session, and individual and group debrief sessions. Due to the complexity of the nurse manager role, individualized leadership development plans were created and utilized. Participant feedback showed that the leadership development program helped increase participants' confidence in operationalizing transformational leadership principles.
Nurse leaders skilled in transformational leadership principles are needed to adequately support staff in the complex and ever-changing healthcare environment. By participating in the leadership development program, the nurse managers gained tools to operationalize transformational leadership principles and became more self-aware of how they present as leaders. Self-awareness is the first crucial step for leadership development.
Well-prepared nurse leaders can have a sustained positive impact on their units, organizations, and healthcare at the local, state, national, and international levels. The return on investment can be seen in increased nurse retention, decreased nurse turnover, improved staff engagement, improved patient satisfaction, optimized patient quality outcomes, and streamlined operations. These are also the outcomes tied to Joy in Work. Measuring these outcomes was limited by the project's implementation timeline. Future research recommendations include comparing Joy in Work outcomes for units with and without nurse managers participating in a leadership development program.
Notes
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Sigma Membership
Beta Nu
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Coaching, Mentoring and Coaching, Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Nursing Leadership, Professional Competence, Education of Nurse Administrators, Continuing Education of Nurses, Mentoring
Recommended Citation
Roebuck, Nicole E., "Designing a Leadership Development Program to Operationalize Transformational Leadership Principles" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 345.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/345
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
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
2026-09-30
Designing a Leadership Development Program to Operationalize Transformational Leadership Principles
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
There are many leadership development programs, but only a few focus on nurses' unique perspectives. The project site had leadership development programs for aspiring nurse leaders, a leadership core for newly appointed nurse leaders, and executive coaching for executive-level nurse leadership. A need was identified for a leadership development program focused on nurse managers. This project designed, implemented, and evaluated a leadership development program for nurse managers to apply the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. The project goal was to increase nurse manager application of the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership to operationalize transformational leadership principles and foster Joy in Work. The leadership development program consisted of an in-person education session, participant completion of the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) Self-Empowered self-assessment tool, an LPI report review and action-planning session, a midpoint check-in session, and individual and group debrief sessions. Due to the complexity of the nurse manager role, individualized leadership development plans were created and utilized. Participant feedback showed that the leadership development program helped increase participants' confidence in operationalizing transformational leadership principles.
Nurse leaders skilled in transformational leadership principles are needed to adequately support staff in the complex and ever-changing healthcare environment. By participating in the leadership development program, the nurse managers gained tools to operationalize transformational leadership principles and became more self-aware of how they present as leaders. Self-awareness is the first crucial step for leadership development.
Well-prepared nurse leaders can have a sustained positive impact on their units, organizations, and healthcare at the local, state, national, and international levels. The return on investment can be seen in increased nurse retention, decreased nurse turnover, improved staff engagement, improved patient satisfaction, optimized patient quality outcomes, and streamlined operations. These are also the outcomes tied to Joy in Work. Measuring these outcomes was limited by the project's implementation timeline. Future research recommendations include comparing Joy in Work outcomes for units with and without nurse managers participating in a leadership development program.
Description
The purpose of this presentation is to share the design, implementation, and evaluation of a leadership development program designed for the unique perspective of nurses. At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will understand how the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership can be used as tools to operationalize transformational leadership principles to foster Joy in Work.