title: Growing our future nursing leaders.
abstract: The need for strong nursing leadership to meet the future challenges of the healthcare delivery system is widely acknowledged, yet many of today's nursing leaders express concern about a lack of interest in leadership among their younger nurses. This article reports on a qualitative research study that involved focus groups with 48 younger nurses under the age of 40 who were not currently in formal leadership positions. Using a ConCensus process, participants were asked questions to identify and prioritize the factors that influence their decisions to accept or reject nursing leadership positions. In this study, participants did see a potential in the nursing leadership role to make a difference for both patients and staff. Adequate compensation for the role and true decision-making power were factors of concern for younger nurses. Feedback from current leaders about nursing leadership positions is not positive. Strategies that current nursing leaders will need to consider to encourage interest in nursing leadership will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Leadership Institute, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA. rsherman@fau.edu
authors.forename: Rose O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D002322:Career Mobility; D032921:Consensus; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D017144:Focus Groups; D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011158:Population Growth; D011209:Power, Psychological; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011361:Professional Competence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires