Findings from a study of aspiring nursing student leaders.
BACKGROUND
Transformational leadership skills are critical to operate effectively in today's healthcare environment. Prelicensure nurses do not often practice these skills in a meaningful way during their undergraduate educational experience.


OBJECTIVE
This paper describes quantitative pre-post findings from the Kouzes and Posner Student Leadership Practices Inventory to examine students' leadership attributes pre-post engagement in an 18 month undergraduate leadership program.


METHODS
This is a non-experimental convenience study that used a quantitative pre-post survey design collecting data from participants and observers using the 360 Kouzes and Posner Student Leadership Practices Inventory.


METHODS
A private university in the northeastern region of the United States.


METHODS
Fourteen junior level nursing students who concurrently participated in a leadership program while concurrently completing their required academic courses for their bachelor's degree in nursing.


METHODS
Paired sample t-tests were used to determine if there was statistical significance among student participants' and observers' perceptions of specific leadership behaviors and skills of students at the onset (pretest) and at the conclusion (posttest) of the leadership program.


RESULTS
Participant and observer scores were positively correlated and statistical significance was identified in several practice areas.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to integrate transformation leadership skills into undergraduate curriculum since it supports students' engagement in their own learning and instills foundational knowledge critical to their leadership trajectory.
College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, 1601 Cherry St., Three Parkway 707, Philadelphia PA, United States. Electronic address: Rlw26@drexel.edu.
Roberta
R
Waite
Couple & Family Therapy, Drexel University, 1601 Cherry St., Three Parkway 707, Philadelphia PA, United States.
Nicole S
NS
McKinney
D003479:Curriculum; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D007858:Learning; D013338:Students, Nursing
Healthcare; Self-understanding; Transformational leadership; Undergraduate nursing student