Effect of Educational Program about Head nurses Authentic Leadership Style on Staff Nurses Empowerment and Motivation

Abstract

Background: Nurses form the largest group of healthcare professionals and are on the front-line of care for patients in hospitals. More excellent patient outcomes result from nurses working in a supportive setting. Organizational leaders necessity to demonstrate trust and independence to encourage nurse motivation, as these behaviors are congruent with intrinsically held nursing values. Authentic leadership has been introduced as the root element of productive leadership needed to develop healthier work environments because there is particular attention to the development of empowering leader-follower relationships. Aim: The study aims to examine the effect of the authentic Leadership training program on staff nurses' motivation and empowerment. Research design Quasi-experimental research design was utilized in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Health Insurance Hospital – Minia governorate. Subjects: All head nurses worked in the inpatient and outpatient units (n = 23) and all staff nurses worked in the same units (n = 208) are included in the study. Tools: four tools were used in this study; Authentic Leadership knowledge questionnaire, Authentic Leadership Self-Assessment scale, Empowerment Scale, and Motivation Scale. Results: The total knowledge score and levels of authentic leadership style among head nurses were low before the program implementation; after the program implementation they had higher scores with statistically significant differences; also the staff nurse empowerment score and motivation score was increased after implementing authentic leadership education program for head nurses. Conclusions: Authentic leadership training program provided in this study had a positive effect on head nurses through increasing their knowledge and their self-assessment about authentic leadership style after the program implementation during the different times of measurement. As well as staff nurses' motivation and empowerment score increased after implementing authentic leadership educational program. Recommendations: Periodical seminars and programs for head nurses are required to develop their leadership style competencies to be more motivated and empowered for their nurses.