Listening to Nursing Leaders: Using NDNQI Data to Study Excellence in Nursing Leadership

Purpose:
The goal of the study was to identify key characteristics of successful nursing leadership using Nurse Managers chosen by their staff as unit leaders in the NDNQi RN survey.

Background/Significance:
The nursing literature is replete with studies trying to define the key aspects of nursing leadership. The research is often linked to the leaders key role in nursing retention. After a review of the literature over the last several years a concise picture of the most significant characteristics of successful nursing leadership was not apparent. As we looked to develop our nursing leadership team we sought to identify key characteristics by studying a group of successful nurse leaders

Methods:
A qualitative study design was used to identify key leadership characteristics of a selected group of Nurse Managers identified through the NDNQI RN survey instrument. Five inpatient Nurse Managers were selected to participate based on their scoring above the mean on the nursing leadership component of the job satisfaction scale. The study was approved by the IRB for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. All subjects signed consent for participation and to have their comments recorded for transcription an anylysis. The subjects were interviewed together. The transcripts were analyzed by four investigators using the VanKaam method.

Results:
The analysis of the discussion revealed three themes. The areas of visibility, communication and values, beliefs and attitudes emerged as key to leadership success in our sample. A model encorporating the themes was developed.

Conclusions and Implications for Practice:
Although there are many important leadership characteristics a foundation in visibility, communication and core values my be the essential foundation on which other skills are built. In hiring new leaders and in developing current leaders these elements may play an essential role in their success.