Nurse Leaders' Motivational Forces in Developing a Health-Promoting Work Environment: A Hermeneutic Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Leadership
• Organizational Psychology
• Caring Science

Background:

• Motivated leaders are crucial for employee motivation and health-promoting work environments.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the specific motivational forces, from a caring science perspective, that drive nurse leaders.
• This gap hinders the development of effective strategies to support nurse leaders in creating healthier workplaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and understand the motivational forces that drive nurse leaders to develop health-promoting work environments.
• To gain deeper insights into the values and underlying motives influencing nurse leaders' commitment to workplace well-being.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research design employing a hermeneutic approach.
• Semistructured interviews conducted with 13 nurse leaders in northern Norway.
• Data collection occurred between December 2023 and February 2024, adhering to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).

Main Results:

• Nurse leaders' motivation stems from an inner sense of responsibility for others' well-being.
• Trusting workplace relationships are a significant motivational factor.
• A sense of mastery, achieved through learning and development, drives leaders.
• Recognition from superiors, including being seen, supported, and involved, is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Articulating nurse leaders' motives and values transforms abstract concepts into actionable insights.
• Findings offer guidance for politicians and decision-makers to improve nurse leaders' working conditions and sustain motivation.
• Enhanced support and understanding of these motivational forces are essential for effective nursing leadership.