Effectiveness of first-line nurse manager authentic leadership training program on nurses’ attitudes in medical and surgical care units

Abstract

Background Authentic leadership behavior is considered a mandatory strategy for enhancing the nurse manager capabilities and practice as well as achieving positive nurses’ attitudes. Aim The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of authentic leadership programs for first-line nurse managers on nurses’ attitudes, including nursing care self-efficacy and trust. Design A quasi-experimental research design Sample In all, 36 first-line nurse managers and 300 nurses were recruited for the current study. Setting Medical and Surgical Care Units of the Alexandria Main University Hospital. Tools Two first-line nurse manager questionnaires on authentic leadership and nursing care self-efficacy and nurses’ trust questionnaires were used to collect data within the implementation of an authentic leadership program. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in both the first-line nurse managers’ knowledge and self-assessment of authentic leadership that led to the improvement of nursing care self-efficacy and nurses’ trust after implementing the present program. Significant progress was shown in mean scores of first-line nurse managers’ knowledge and assessment of authentic leadership and nursing care self-efficacy and nurses’ trust throughout the post and follow-up programs in comparison to preprogram evaluation. Conclusions The present authentic leadership program had a positive effect on first-line nurse managers’ knowledge and self-assessment of authentic leadership that led to improving nursing care self-efficacy and nurses’ trust. Implications The current program is essential not only to nurse managers for acting within ethical and moral principles, but also is essential for nursing care and health-care organizations as a whole.