Authentic Nurse Leadership Conceptual Framework: Nurses' Perception of Authentic Nurse Leader Attributes

Today's nurse leaders are challenged to successfully implement and sustain healthy work environments and promote staff engagement. Authentic leaders possess inner core values that are consistent with the nursing profession. Authentic nurse leaders are able to create a healthy work environment that leads to engaged nurses. The first aim of this study was to develop the authentic nurse leadership conceptual framework and instrument. The second was to identify nurses' perception of authentic nurse leader attributes, grounded in the nursing discipline, that support a healthy work environment and promote nurse engagement. A crossover design was employed to compare the Authentic Nurse Leadership Questionnaire (ANLQ) with the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire, which has been used for leaders from multiple disciplines. The study sample consisted of 309 registered nurses, whose work includes at least 50% direct patient care. Results of the study indicate that the ANLQ is valid and reliable; ANLQ concepts were statistically supported by both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The ANLQ better identified nursing values, as indicated by a stronger relationship with nurse work-life and nurse engagement.