title: A study of nurse leadership.
abstract: Little research has been undertaken on the leadership effectiveness of head (charge) nurses or on the preparation needed for this position. This descriptive correlational study explored the relationships between leadership effectiveness of head nurses and several educational and career variables. The study, which was undertaken in the northwest of USA, should be relevant to Australian nurses. Findings indicated that previous leadership experience (in school, college, community or professional committees) and nursing management experience prior to assuming the present head nurse position were positively related to the level of leadership effectiveness. A negative relationship was found between the length of time in the present position and the level of leadership effectiveness. The best combination of variables for predicting leadership effectiveness of head nurses, in order of the proportion of contribution, was found to be: previous nursing management experience; leadership continuing education; length of time in the present position; previous leadership experience and level of nursing education. These variables were found to positively influence leadership effectiveness, with the exception of length of time in the present position which was found to have a negative influence.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Irurita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004506:Education, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000592:standards*; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires