Perceptions of followership among nurses: A qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Followership is crucial for healthcare delivery, team dynamics, and patient outcomes.
• In nursing, followership involves active engagement in patient care, safety, and teamwork.
• Exploration of followership in Saudi Arabian nursing is notably limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perceptions and practices of followership among nurses in Saudi Arabia.
• To understand the implications of followership for healthcare delivery in this specific context.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative inquiry with seven registered nurses in Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health hospitals.
• Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis were employed.

Main Results:

• A lack of clarity regarding followership was prevalent, often equated with teamwork.
• Nurses reported limited involvement in decision-making due to hierarchical leadership.
• Barriers included poor leadership, role undervaluation, and lack of training; facilitators included effective leadership and communication.

Conclusions:

• Widespread lack of awareness of followership among Saudi nurses, with significant hierarchy and role undervaluation challenges.
• Need for educational interventions to redefine followership, enhance assertiveness, and decision-making skills.
• Advocacy for re-evaluating leadership to value followership, flatten hierarchies, and improve patient care and nurse satisfaction.