Using collective leadership to support nurses and enhance patient outcomes

Healthcare services and nursing environments are becoming increasingly highly pressured and stressful areas in which to work. However, effective leadership can have a significant effect on the workplace experience of nurses. This article explores the changing landscape of nurse leadership, from a traditional hierarchal approach focused on a small number of leaders to a leadership style that aims to support staff through a relational approach such as collective leadership. Collective leadership has been shown to lead to improvements in nurses' workplace experience, the care environment generally, productivity and patient outcomes. Collective leadership values nurses' leadership skills and seeks to involve them in achieving organisational goals.