The Relationship between Nursing Leadership and Patient Readmission Rate: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background Nurse leaders play a fundamental role in improving patient quality care delivery, thus improving patient clinical outcomes. Purpose This systematic review examined the knowledge to date of nursing leadership on reducing patient readmission rates. Methods A literature review was conducted using seven electronic databases: Medline Ovid, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) Plus, Emerald, PsycINFO, ABI/INFORM collection, and EBSCO, with the addition of references for relevant papers reviewed. Findings The search resulted in a total of 15 articles. Findings revealed that leadership practices of nurses have an impact on reducing patient readmission rates. Conclusions The results suggest a need for further rigorous studies investigating the mechanism of how nursing leadership relates to patient readmission rates and how to translate this into practice across diverse cultures.