The effect of a nurse manager's authentic leadership intervention on nurses' well-being: A single unit QI project

Nurse well-being is at the forefront of nursing leadership's focus, particularly with the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Nurse managers, as authentic leaders, should understand their role in supporting the spectrum of nurse well-being. At the negative end of well-being, leaders must address staff burnout as it increases nurse turnover, shortage of nurses, and poor patient outcomes.

The specific aim for this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a program that could guide a nurse manager of a single inpatient unit on how to improve well-being in their nursing staff as measured by: (a) improved well-being scores to a composite score of 3.5 or greater as indicated by follow-up Culture Pulse surveys distributed in 2021; and (b) reduced absenteeism among nursing staff by 18%.

Five surveys identical to the organization's work culture survey, that measures well-being, were sent to staff each month starting in January 2021 and ending in May 2021. The average composite score from all five surveys was 2.8, indicating an overall improvement. Absenteeism was reduced during implementation by 39%.

This QI project guides nurse managers in the evidence-based interventions that can promote well-being in their staff.