Ethical Leadership, Flourishing, and Extra-Role Behavior Among Nurses

Abstract

Introduction The nursing literature is silent about the relationship between ethical leadership, nurses’ flourishing, and extra-role behavior. This study was carried out to contribute to the relevant field research. Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between nurses’ perceptions of their nursing managers’ ethical leadership behavior, nurses’ flourishing, and their extra-role behavior. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 302 nurses from six hospitals in Damietta City, Egypt. Data were collected using the following three self-report scales: Ethical Leadership at Work questionnaire, Flourishing Scale, and extra-role behavior scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical, Pearson correlation, regression analysis and the structure equation model. Results There was a significant positive relationship between nursing managers’ ethical leadership, nurses’ flourishing, and extra-role behavior. The regression analysis showed that the ethical leadership of nursing managers and nurses’ flourishing predict extra-role behavior. Conclusion Nurses with a high level of flourishing and who work with a manager exhibiting ethical leadership behavior are more likely to activate extra-role behavior. Hence, it is recommended that nursing managers embrace an ethical approach in their leadership practices and promote flourishing among nurses to encourage them to go the extra the mile in their jobs.