Nurse executive director effectiveness: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

The literature relating to nurse executive director effectiveness is limited but there are sufficient recurring themes to inform current practice and to investigate in new research.

Decisional involvement of senior nurse leaders in Canadian acute care hospitals

“…2006). In many cases restructuring changes provided opportunities for nurse leaders to demonstrate their leadership skills and play a greater role in decision‐making within the new multidisciplinary programme structures (Clancy 2003, Thorman 2004, Kirk 2008). As an integrated member of the senior leadership team, the SNL has the opportunity to influence team members by ensuring that patient care and nursing practice perspectives are voiced when decisions are being made that affect organizational directions, quality management and resource use.…”

“…In some organizations nurse executives were added to senior executive teams and in others, their scope of participation in organizational decisions related to budget, strategic planning, quality of care and a host of challenging organizational issues greatly increased. Similarly, healthcare reform in the United Kingdom and other European countries created role changes and new opportunities for nurse leaders in health care organizations (Fedoruk 2000, Filkins 2003, Kirk 2008).…”

Factors identified by Nurse Executive Directors as important to their success

“…Since the re‐organization of UK hospitals into semi‐autonomous Trusts in 1991, Nurse Executive Directors (NEDs) have provided professional leadership to nursing and contributed more broadly to the senior leadership of all services. A systematic review of the literature identified several characteristics that have been consistently associated with the effectiveness of nursing executives (Kirk 2007). North American studies have repeatedly found similar results to the seven main characteristics originally reported by Freund (1985).…”

“…In summary, the literature relating to NED effectiveness is limited. A number of characteristics have been associated with NED effectiveness but few have been reported in more than one study where the design or setting has been different (Table 1) (Kirk 2007).…”

Magnet Nurse Administrator Attitudes and Opportunities

“…7(p206) Additional research supports that homonegativity frequently occurs within the nursing profession. 16,17 In Magnet A organizations, CNOs are purported as leaders of clinical excellence and evidence-based practice. 14,15 Chief nursing officers (CNOs) are recognized for the position power, business skills, and clinical acumen to establish new programs and services to meet the needs of diverse patient populations.…”