Leadership Practices in Hospital Nursing: A Self of Manager Nurses^*

Prácticas de Liderazgo en enfermería hospitalaria: Una Selfie de Enfermeros Gestores

Abstract

OBJECTIVE  To assess the frequency of the leadership practices performed by the manager nurses of hospital institutions and their association with the variables of the socioprofessional profile.

METHOD  Cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study conducted in four hospitals in a city of the state of São Paulo. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the instrument Leadership Practices Inventory were used. Data collection and analysis were based on an exemplary Leadership Practices Model.

RESULTS  Eighty-four manager nurses participated in the study. The mean values of the leadership practices used by the nurses were: enable others to act (50.6); encourage the heart (48.2); model the way (46.7); challenge the process (43.3); and inspire a shared vision (43.1). Data analysis also evidenced a correlation between the practice encourage the heart and the variables time of care and employment relationship.

Conclusion  The study evidenced the presence of manager nurses exercising moderate leadership, and promoting teamwork, an environment of trust, and a horizontal vision. However, moderate values also reveal managerial aspects to be improved by the leaders by means of organizational strategies and/or tools aimed at best leadership practices.

Descriptors Nursing; Leadership; Management; Nursing Service, Hospital; Nursing, Supervisory; Hospital Administration