Nursing leadership in Chile: a concept in transition

The purposes of this two-year research study were to uncover Chilean nurses' perspectives of the elements that comprise leadership, and to identify challenges faced by nurse leaders in modern health administration. The research question is, What are the structural components that define and characterize nursing leadership in Chile? Nine nurses from different professional backgrounds volunteered to take part in audiorecorded successive interviews. The research methodology was a kind of grounded theory. Findings suggest that leadership is characterized mainly by exerting a positive influence on others based on good communication, knowledge of management, and a futurist vision of the nursing profession. Crisis and transition in nursing leadership were associated with external and internal forces, such as reforms in healthcare organizations and changes in the nursing conceptual framework.