Transformational leadership in nursing: towards a more critical interpretation

Abstract

HUTCHINSON M and JACKSON D. Nursing Inquiry 2013; 20: 11–22 Transformational leadership in nursing: towards a more critical interpretation Effective nurse leadership is positioned as an essential factor in achieving optimal patient outcomes and workplace enhancement. Over the last two decades, writing and research on nursing leadership has been dominated by one conceptual theory, that of transformational leadership. This theoretical framework has provided insight into various leader characteristics, with research findings presented as persuasive evidence. While elsewhere there has been robust debate on the merits of the transformational model of leadership, in the nursing literature, there has been little critical review of the model and the commonly used assessment instruments. In this article, we critically review more than a decade of nursing scholarship on the transformational model of leadership and its empirical evidence. Applying a critical lens to the literature, the conceptual and methodological weaknesses of much nursing research on this topic, we question whether the uncritical adoption of the transformational model has resulted in a limited interpretation of nursing leadership. Given the limitations of the model, we advocate embracing new ways of thinking about nursing leadership.

Transformational Leadership Practices of Nurse Leaders in Professional Nursing Associations

“…The transformational model may have some potential limitations so it is possible that the claim made by participants regarding the extent of TL in nursing is exaggerated. 35 For the execution of the survey, it was difficult to obtain the e-mail addresses of nursing leaders. Many PNAs do not wish to share their Listserv stating privacy reasons, so the study was limited to nurse leaders whose e-mail addresses were publicly listed on the organization Web site.…”

Connecting nursing leadership and patient outcomes: state of the science

“…Many of the studies examined transformational leadership (Bass & Avolio 1994, Kouzes & Posner 1995. However, in a critical analysis of transformational leadership research in nursing, Hutchinson and Jackson (2013) recently argued that flaws in conceptualizations and methods in this body of research call for nurse researchers to pursue "new ways of thinking about nursing leadership" (p. 11) that adequately address the dynamics and contextual drivers in modern day healthcare. Also, we need to move beyond limited notions of ª 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd leadership such as, manager ability or support, to more multifaceted explanations of leadership behaviour and influence strategies suggested in some of the newer "genre of leadership theories" such as authentic, ethical, servant, shared or resonant leadership (Hannah et al 2014, p. 599).…”

Impact of Workplace Mistreatment on Patient Safety Risk and Nurse-Assessed Patient Outcomes

“…9 In the nursing profession, poor performance has serious implications for patient care quality and patient safety. 10,11 However, there are few large-scale studies that have systematically examined the effects of workplace mistreatment on patient safety outcomes. 10 …”

“…10,11 However, there are few large-scale studies that have systematically examined the effects of workplace mistreatment on patient safety outcomes. 10 …”