An authentic leadership training programme to increase nurse empowerment and patient safety: A quasi‐experimental study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundAuthentic leadership and empowered nurses are necessary if a healthy work environment is to be created and patient safety maintained; however, few studies have examined the impact of authentic leadership, on nurse empowerment and the patient safety climate.PurposeThe aim of the study was to investigate the impact of an educational intervention delivered through a multi‐faceted training programme on nurses' perceptions of authentic leadership, nurse empowerment (both structural and psychological) and the patient safety climate.DesignA quasi‐experimental study using a one‐group pretest–posttest design consistent with TREND guidelines.MethodsThe study was conducted in a university hospital between December 2018 and January 2020. Participants were followed for 6 months. The programme involved 36 head nurses (leaders) and 153 nurses (followers). The effectiveness of the programme was evaluated using repeated measures of analysis of variance, dependent sample t‐tests and hierarchical regression analysis.ResultsFollowing the intervention, safety climate and authentic leadership scores increased among both leaders and followers. Structural and psychological empowerment scores also increased among followers. We found that authentic leadership and structural empowerment were predictors of safety climate.ConclusionThe implementation of the education programme resulted in positive changes in participants' perceptions of authentic leadership and empowerment, which can enhance patient safety.ImplicationsHealthcare organizations can implement similar multi‐faceted training programmes focused on authentic leadership, and nurse empowerment to increase patient safety. Achieving effective results in such programmes can be facilitated by motivating participants with the support of the top management.Patient or Public ContributionThe study included nurses in the intervention and the data collection processes.Impact Patient safety is a global concern, and improving patient safety culture/climate is a key strategy in preventing harm. Authentic leadership and nurse empowerment are essential in creating healthy work environments and delivering safe, high‐quality care. Training programmes addressing these issues can help bring about improvements in healthcare organizations.