The relationship between leadership styles and empathy among student nurses.
Much of the nursing literature on leadership describes the qualities of existing nursing leaders, while emphasizing the need for leadership development in student nurses for both managerial and clinical practice. However, there is a lack of research literature on the characteristics of current students. Conducted by the University of Tennessee College of Nursing Empathy Research Group, this pilot study explores the relationship between leadership styles and empathy (cognitive and affective) levels. This correlational descriptive study involved self-report using 3 instruments. Hogan Empathy Scale (HES) and Emotional Empathy Tendency Scale (EETS) measured cognitive and affective empathy levels. The Multifactoral Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5x) was used to determine leadership style. Data analysis yielded evidence of a weak positive correlation between the predominant transformational leadership style and empathy levels in both junior and senior students. This correlation has implications for both nurse educators and future employers.
Gunther
Mary
M
University of Tennessee College of Nursing, Knoxville, TN 37996-4180, USA. mgunther@utk.edu
Evans
Ginger
G
Mefford
Linda
L
Coe
Thomas R
TR
D000339:Affect; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003071:Cognition; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011361:Professional Competence; D012201:Reward; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013714:Tennessee