Human-centred leadership in health care: A contemporary nursing leadership theory generated via constructivist...

To generate a unique and contemporary leadership theory reflecting the essence of nursing within a complex health care environment.

As health care faces unprecedented change and increasing complexity, a nursing leadership theory embedded within complexity science is vital for teams to be innovative, nimble and focused on human-centred care.

Constructivist grounded theory framed exploration of human issues embedded in nursing leadership. The constructivist approach sought thematic and theoretical sensitivity through the rich co-creative experience of participants, researchers, literature and data. Focus groups were convened over 18 months with 39 nurse leaders from bedside to boardroom.

Constant comparative methods resulted in 15 attributes. Advanced coding positioned the 15 attributes into constructs: Awakener, Connector and Upholder. Definitions emerged through the constructivist process organically connecting attributes and constructs to the potential outcomes identified in the theory as cultures of excellence, trust and caring.

The final constructivist process revealed a nursing-specific theory: human-centred leadership in health care uniquely suited to assist leaders in addressing structure, process and outcomes.

Efforts by nurse leaders to test the theory with metrics related to nursing excellence will result in validation of the theory and validation of the proposed sustained culture change.