Relationship between Leadership Self-Efficacy and Leadership Effectiveness of First-Line Nurse Managers

Abstract

Background: Today, nursing leaders face unprecedented challenges as healthcare organizations struggle to adapt to ever-accelerating rates of change both internally with the external environment in which they are embedded. The connection between leadership self-efficacy and leadership effectiveness may be critical to find new ways of selecting and developing leadership in healthcare organizations. Greater understanding is needed regarding how leaders' efficacy beliefs interact with their broader self-concept and effectiveness to increase the adaptability across numerous challenges, roles, and performance contexts. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between leadership self-efficacy of first-line nurse managers and their leadership effectiveness. Methods: Design and setting: A descriptive co-relational research design was conducted at all inpatient medical and surgical care units at Alexandria Main University Hospital. Subjects included; all first-line nurse managers (N=37); all staff nurses (N=400) and all nursing supervisors (N=14) working in the previously mentioned units. Leadership Self-Efficacy Inventory was used by first-line nurse managers to assess their leadership self-efficacy, and Leadership Effectiveness Scale, a 360° feedback instrument was used to assess leadership effectiveness of first-line nurse managers from different sources. Results: The findings of this study revealed a significant positive correlation between overall leadership selfefficacy of first-line nurse managers and their leadership effectiveness (r=0.190, p=0.000). However, a significant difference was found among first-line nurse managers, staff nurses and nursing supervisors regarding their overall perception of leadership effectiveness of first-line nurse managers (F=19.69, p=0.000). Conclusion and recommendation: Leadership self-efficacy is considered a useful and important strategy for improving leadership effectiveness, staff improvement and empowerment. Continuous educational programs that focus on advancement and challenging situations in leadership, strategic issues, change management, work unit management, should be provided for first-line nurse managers in order to enhance and support their self-efficacy and effectiveness in their leadership role and meeting different work expectations.