Exploring nurses' leadership and resilience in a complex daily work environment: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Leadership
• Organizational Resilience

Background:

• The healthcare system's complexity requires continuous adaptation and resilience from nursing staff.
• Nurses face dynamic changes and unexpected patient needs in their daily practice.
• This study examines nurse leadership in response to workplace changes and resilience demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how nurses exhibit leadership within a complex and changing healthcare environment.
• To identify the specific behaviors nurses employ to demonstrate resilience and leadership.
• To understand the role of collaboration in resilient nurse leadership.

Main Methods:

• An empirical qualitative study using non-participatory observations (60 hours).
• Semi-structured group interviews with nurses and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.
• Thematic analysis of observation data and interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• Nurses display resilient leadership through four key behaviors: proactive, patient-centered care; investigative problem-solving; reflective learning; and profession-based approaches.
• Leadership behaviors are evident through nurses' considerations, beliefs, and interactions.
• These behaviors contribute to situated, structural, and social resilience in nursing practice.

Conclusions:

• Collaboration among nurses, with patients, other professionals, and management is crucial for resilient nurse leadership.
• Nurses' leadership is made visible through their resilience in a complex healthcare context.
• Understanding these dynamics enhances support for nursing staff and improves patient care outcomes.