Achieving Excellence: The Role of Leadership Styles in Fostering Work Performance and Autonomy in Nurses’ decision-making

Abstract

Background Leadership is essential to nursing because it influences autonomy in nurses’ decision-making and work performance. Efficient leadership styles have been demonstrated to significantly influence patient outcomes, nursing practice, and organizational success. On the contrary, inadequate leadership can impede nurses' autonomy in decision-making, limit their job satisfaction, and ultimately hinder the quality of patient care. Study Aim This study aims to evaluate the role of leadership styles in fostering work performance and autonomy in nurses’ decision-making at Northern Region Hospitals. Methodology A descriptive exploratory design was used in this study with a sample size of 102 participants. Results The results showed a linear relationship between Transformational leadership style and subjective measures of leader work performance and autonomy in nurses' decision-making. The study results indicated that most staff nurses defined their leader's style as transformational leadership, followed by transactional leadership and then laissez-faire leadership. Conclusion In conclusion, Leadership must enhance and foster autonomy in nurses' decision-making ability. Leaders must improve their leadership style to positively impact autonomy in nurses’ decision-making and improve patients' healthcare. All managers down to the lowest channel must exercise a key leadership role to influence nurses to become good and independent leaders. This study involves nursing practice and nursing management. Nurse managers should receive training on the different leadership philosophies and how to apply the style that best advances the organization’s objectives.