title: Nursing leadership practices as perceived by Finnish nursing staff: high ethics, less feedback and rewards.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to examine the perceptions of Finnish nursing staff of their nursing leadership and how nurses' background variables are associated with their perceptions.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Nursing leadership practices and behaviours influence nursing staff work performances. In Finland, studies examining leadership practices from the perspective of nursing staff are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  This quantitative, cross-sectional study involved four hospitals in Eastern Finland. A total of 1497 nursing staff completed the structured electronic questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, seven out of 10 nursing staff held positive perceptions about leadership ethics and their professional development. Over one-third of nursing staff were dissatisfied with the nursing process and with their feedback and rewards, while only four out of 10 evaluated their nursing director either in a positive or negative way. There were no significant differences regarding their perceptions when different background variables were taken into account.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing leadership needs the opinion of nursing staff in order to help formulate a favourable work environment where they can utilize their full potential and improve nursing care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing staff expect feedback and rewards, involvement in the decision making process, and clear vision from nurse leaders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. eneh@student.uef.fi
authors.forename: Victor Okey
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Eneh
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vehviläinen-Julkunen
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kvist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009736:Nursing Process; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D012201:Reward; D013192:Staff Development; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires