Rethinking global nursing leadership: The Strategic Leadership Framework

Nursing leadership is often viewed as the exclusive responsibility assigned to formal leadership roles. Our work suggests that important changes are being led by nurses, regardless of their assigned roles.

By presenting a framework of leadership, we illustrate how nurses lead meaningful change.

Case studies from nurses in leadership roles from around the globe provided affirming examples of the relevance of the Strategic Leadership Framework. Case studies were analyzed to identify key concepts for leading change beyond traditional settings.

The key leadership activities of understanding culture and context, effective communication and collaboration provide the foundation for the Strategic Leadership Framework.

These cases provide beginning confirmatory evidence of the relevance of the framework and illustrate the ways in which nurses without formal leadership titles lead outside of the organizational settings. Specifically, the framework points to the importance of considering context, leveraging collaboration and communication, and using strategic leadership interventions to bring about meaningful change.