The relationship between transformational leadership and nurses' attitudes toward patient advocacy in Jordanian...

This study aims to examine the relationship between transformational leadership and nurses' attitudes toward patient advocacy in Jordanian governmental hospitals.

This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional correlational design. Convenience sampling was used to collect data from 127 nurses working in three governmental hospitals in Jordan. Data were collected between December 2024 and January 2025 using validated tools, including the multifactor leadership questionnaire (MLQ) and the patient advocacy attitudes scale.

Nurses perceived transformational leadership within their hospitals at a moderate level (M = 47.4, SD ± 17.0), and they reported moderate to high attitudes toward patient advocacy (M = 3.4, SD ± 0.6). Transformational leadership and advocacy attitudes showed a statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.2, p = 0.02). Perceived transformational leadership and participation at patient rights workshops significantly predicted nurses' advocacy attitudes.

These findings emphasize the importance of implementing targeted leadership development and advocacy training in Jordanian healthcare settings. Healthcare administrators should integrate leadership development programs and structured training on patient rights into ongoing professional development and institutional policies.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is among the first in the Middle East to examine the relationship between transformational leadership and nurses' attitudes toward advocacy. Findings from Jordanian government hospitals contribute to the global evidence of how leadership behaviors shape ethical nursing practice, underscoring the importance of leadership development and patient rights education to promote advocacy and patient-centered care.