Perceptions of preceptors' authentic leadership and final year nursing students' self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and job performance.

Abstract

Preceptors are integral to the transition process of student nurses to licensed nurses. Preceptors are leaders who could utilize authentic leadership to help foster self-awareness and positive relationships and build capacity with student nurses. Investigating the relationship between perceived preceptor authentic leadership and final year nursing students' self-efficacy, job satisfaction and performance. This correlational study used data collected from 94 pre-licensure final semester baccalaureate and licensed practical nursing students from three different schools about preceptors' authentic leadership, self-efficacy, job satisfaction and performance. Mediated multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between perceived preceptors' authentic leadership, self-efficacy, job satisfaction and performance. Preceptors were perceived to demonstrate authentic leadership (M=3.21, SD=0.68). Students' self-efficacy increased post preceptorship (t(93)=3.96, p<.001), and authentic leadership was associated with self-efficacy (r=0.46, p<.001) and job satisfaction (r=0.49, p<.001). Self-efficacy mediated the relationship between job performance and authentic leadership. Authentic leadership has positive implications for preceptorship and nursing students' self-efficacy, job satisfaction and performance, which could enhance nurse retention.