The Impact of First-line Nurse Managers Leadership Development Training Program on Workgroup Climate and Performance

Abstract

<p>The uncertainty in the health care industry, particularly in nursing, makes the next millennium an important time for nurses to develop leadership skills. One of the greatest challenges faced in the nursing profession is developing future nurse leaders. A better understanding of what transformational leadership is, can improve our ability to provide effective leadership training programs and interventions. To respond to changing technological and social forces, new managerial responsibilities are placed on the nursing services requiring nurse administrators who are knowledgeable, skilled and competent in all aspects of leadership. To confront these expanding responsibilities and demands, the leader's role must take on new dimensions to facilitate quality outcomes in patient care and meet other strategic organizational goals and objectives (Porter-O'Grady, 2000). Nursing practice and nursing leadership are not solo acts. Nurses do not practice nursing in isolation from others, and nursing leadership is not practiced in a vacuum (Reid-Ponte, 2006). Therefore, nursing leadership plays a pivotal role in determining the future direction of the nursing profession and in preparing nurses to ensure quality health care for the future and to meet the inevitable challenges of the new millennium.</p>