title: How nurse leaders are connected internationally.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether communication networks exist in a diverse and competitively selected cohort of nurse leaders, and to identify variables that explain any patterns of connection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty seven nurse leaders completed a form to ascertain the presence and strength of communication between participants. Data were analysed using social network analysis, generating a visualisation of the network and associated quantitative measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were poorly connected. Those connections that did exist centred on geographic proximity and participation in regional and global bodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results help improve understanding of how nurse leaders are connected internationally, and prompt inquiry in to how connections might be strengthened.
authors.affiliation: International Council of Nurses, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: David Charles
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Benton
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D007391:International Cooperation; D007857:Leadership; D009740:Nursing Staff; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Communication; nursing leadership; social network analysis