Leader Influence, the Professional Practice Environment, and Nurse Engagement in Essential Nursing Practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Leadership
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Limited empirical data exists on the impact of nurse leader influence in healthcare decision-making.
• Nursing leaders often lack perceived influence, impacting their role in shaping professional practice environments.
• Understanding nurse leader influence is crucial for improving healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between nurse leaders' perceived influence over professional practice environments (PPEs).
• To examine clinical nurses' reported engagement in professional nursing practice.
• To identify how nurse leader influence affects the quality of patient care.

Main Methods:

• A nonexperimental predictive design was employed.
• Nurse leaders' perceived influence was measured using the Leadership Influence over Professional Practice Environment Scale (LIPPES).
• Clinical nurses' engagement in professional practice was assessed using the Essentials of Magnetism II (EOMII) tool.
• Data were collected from 30 nurse leaders and 169 clinical nurses in a Magnet® hospital.

Main Results:

• Nurse leaders reported high levels of perceived influence (mean scores 3.02-3.70 on a 4-point scale).
• Nurse leaders' perceived influence in collegial approach, authority, and access to resources positively correlated with clinical nurses' perceptions of adequate staffing.
• Nurse leaders' perceived authority and access to resources predicted higher nurse-assessed quality of patient care (NAQC).

Conclusions:

• Nurse leaders are essential in enhancing professional practice environments (PPEs).
• The influence of nurse leaders is linked to structures that support positive patient care outcomes.
• Empowering nurse leaders can foster environments conducive to high-quality nursing practice.