Nurse leaders' experiences with hybrid work schedules

Hospital-based nurse leaders manage complex operational, staffing, and organizational demands that influence well-being and job satisfaction. Hybrid work models, adopted widely during the COVID-19 pandemic, may offer needed flexibility, though little is known about their impact on nurse leaders.

To explore nurse leaders' experiences with hybrid work schedules and examine perceived effects on job satisfaction, work-life balance, communication, and unit-level performance outcomes.

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with seven nurse leaders at a Level 1 safety-net hospital. Individual interviews were recorded and transcribed, followed by inductive content analysis. A five-item job satisfaction survey was administered, and unit-level nurse-sensitive indicators were reviewed for performance trends.

Three themes emerged: 1) leadership style unchanged, with hybrid work enhancing focus and reducing distractions; 2) the need for rules of hybrid engagement to support communication, visibility, and collaboration; and 3) improved work-life balance, with participants emphasizing that removing hybrid options could affect retention. Job satisfaction was high, and performance indicators showed mixed trends without evidence of decline attributable to hybrid work.

Hybrid scheduling supported flexibility, productivity, and satisfaction among nurse leaders without compromising unit-level performance. Clear expectations and communication can optimize hybrid leadership models and contribute to leadership sustainability.