Leadership research in nursing (2000-2024): a bibliometric analysis of global trends and thematic evolution

Nursing leadership plays a critical role in shaping care quality, workforce well-being and organizational outcomes. Although research on nursing leadership has expanded substantially, a comprehensive overview of its long-term evolution and post-pandemic trends is lacking. This study aims to map the scientific landscape of nursing leadership research and identify thematic and productivity trends between 2000 and 2024.

A descriptive bibliometric analysis was conducted using research and review articles indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection. Data from 1,539 publications were analyzed using the Bibliometrix package in R, in accordance with the BIBLIO reporting guidelines.

Scientific production increased steadily, with a marked acceleration after 2020. Transformational leadership has emerged as the most frequently studied leadership style, whereas authentic leadership has gained prominence in recent years. The Journal of Nursing Management was the leading outlet and Laschinger HKS was the most influential author.

This study is delimited to the WoS Core Collection and an English-language, keyword-driven retrieval strategy; consequently, relevant outputs indexed in other databases, in non-English outlets or labeled with alternative terminology may be underrepresented. Bibliometric indicators capture structural patterns (productivity, citation impact, collaboration and thematic evolution) but do not assess methodological quality nor permit causal inference regarding leadership effects. Future research should integrate multiple databases, conduct sensitivity analyses on search strings and combine bibliometrics with systematic or realist syntheses to better link leadership models to workforce and patient outcomes in the post-COVID era.

Our results offer a defensible evidence base for prioritizing nursing leadership competencies in education and organizational development. The sustained prominence of transformational leadership, alongside the increasing salience of authentic leadership and wellbeing-related outcomes, suggests that programs should emphasize relational communication, supportive supervision and ethical, transparent decision-making. Health service leaders may use the mapped thematic trajectory to align leadership frameworks with contemporary workforce risks (burnout and turnover intentions) and to evaluate interventions using measurable outcomes and implementation metrics, thereby strengthening the translation of leadership research into practice.

By clarifying how nursing leadership scholarship has evolved, this study informs broader debates on sustaining the nursing workforce and safeguarding care quality. Evidence on leadership approaches that buffer psychosocial strain has potential societal value through improved retention, reduced absenteeism and more resilient services, particularly under post-pandemic pressures. The identified concentration of output and collaboration in specific regions further underscores the importance of inclusive international partnerships to generate context-sensitive leadership evidence, support equity in workforce policy and enhance the generalizability of recommendations across diverse health systems.

By charting shifts in nursing leadership research priorities, this work provides a research roadmap to strengthen leadership development programs and inform health workforce policy with evidence-based direction.