Cited by 637Nursing education and managementHealthcare Education and Workforce IssuesNursing Education, Practice, and Leadership

Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: a systematic review

Cummings, Greta G., Tate, Kaitlyn, Lee, Sarah, Wong, Carol A., Paananen, Tanya, Micaroni, Simone P.M., Chatterjee, Gargi E.·2018·International Journal of Nursing Studies

Abstract

BACKGROUND Leadership is critical in building quality work environments, implementing new models of care, and bringing health and wellbeing to a strained nursing workforce. However, the nature of leadership style, how leadership should be enacted, and its associated outcomes requires further research and understanding. We aimed to examine the relationships between various styles of leadership and outcomes for the nursing workforce and their work environments. METHODS The search strategy of this systematic review included 10 electronic databases. Published, quantitative studies that examined the correlations between leadership behaviours and nursing outcomes were included. Quality assessments, data extractions and analysis were completed on all included studies by independent reviewers. RESULTS A total of 50,941 titles and abstracts were screened resulting in 129 included studies. Using content analysis, 121 outcomes were grouped into six categories: 1) staff satisfaction with job factors, 2) staff relationships with work, 3) staff health & wellbeing, 4) relations among staff, 5) organizational environment factors and 6) productivity & effectiveness. Our analysis illuminated patterns between relational and task focused leadership styles and their outcomes for nurses and nursing work environments. For example, 52 studies reported that relational leadership styles were associated with higher nurse job satisfaction, whereas 16 studies found that task-focused leadership styles were associated with lower nurse job satisfaction. Similar trends were found for each category of outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this systematic review provide strong support for the employment of relational leadership styles to promote positive nursing workforce outcomes and related organizational outcomes. Leadership focused solely on task completion is insufficient to achieve optimum outcomes for the nursing workforce. Relational leadership practices need to be encouraged and supported by individuals and organizations to enhance nursing job satisfaction, retention, work environment factors and individual productivity within healthcare settings.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.04.016

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Authors
Cummings, G. G., Tate, K., Lee, S., Wong, C. A., Paananen, T., Micaroni, S. P. M., & Chatterjee, G. E.
Affiliations
  • University of Alberta (CA)
  • Western University (CA)
Corresponding author
Cummings, Greta G.
Venue
International Journal of Nursing Studies
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-09
Volume
85
Pages
19-60
ISSN
0020-7489 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4233451756
Cited by
637
References
378
Citations by year
2026: 132 · 2025: 122 · 2024: 104 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 75 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI
5.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
International Journal of Nursing Studies (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Arizona (1 RO1-NU00908)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Research and Theory › Nursing education and management
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Leadership and Management › Healthcare Education and Workforce Issues
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Issues, ethics and legal aspects › Nursing Education, Practice, and Leadership
Keywords
leadership styles, relational leadership, nursing workforce, nursing work environment, nursing satisfaction, nurse retention, nurse well-being, staff relationships, organizational context, nursing productivity

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