Influence of Transformational Leadership Competence on Nurses' Intent to Stay: Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Leadership
• Organizational Behavior
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Transformational leadership (TL) by nurse managers is linked to improved staff outcomes.
• Limited evidence exists on TL and nurse retention in the Arab Gulf region, specifically Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between nurse managers' TL and staff nurses' intent to stay in KSA.
• To identify which TL dimensions predict intent to stay.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 523 staff nurses in Riyadh, KSA.
• Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire assessed TL; Intent to Stay scale measured retention intentions.
• Spearman's rank correlation and multivariable ridge regression analyzed the data.

Main Results:

• Nurse managers' TL positively correlated with staff nurses' intent to stay (r = 0.22, p < 0.001).
• All five dimensions of TL showed a strong positive relationship with intent to stay (p < 0.001).
• Overall TL significantly predicted intent to stay (β = 0.13, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Findings support the link between TL and nurse retention intentions.
• TL, by recognizing individual staff needs, enhances retention and organizational success.
• Developing leadership competencies in nursing is crucial for a supportive work environment.