Leadership Behaviors That Impact Nurse Faculty Job Satisfaction: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Leadership Studies
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• The nursing faculty shortage is a critical issue in the United States.
• Job dissatisfaction among nurse faculty significantly contributes to this shortage.
• There is a need to understand specific leader behaviors that can enhance job satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify actionable behaviors for academic nurse leaders.
• To improve nurse faculty job satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.
• Conducted interviews with 15 nurse faculty members.
• Employed inductive thematic analysis for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Four key themes of effective leadership behavior emerged.
• Theme 1: Building strong relationships with leaders and faculty.
• Theme 2: Cultivating an environment that values faculty autonomy.
• Theme 3: Facilitating faculty professional growth and development.
• Theme 4: Academic nurse leaders serving as positive role models.

Conclusions:

• Effective leadership is crucial for enhancing nurse faculty job satisfaction.
• Academic nurse leaders must recognize their impact on the work environment.
• Intentional leadership actions can foster a supportive and satisfying workplace for nurse faculty.