Nurse executives: leadership motivation and leadership effectiveness

In a mailed survey, chief nurse officers (N = 92) described their leadership motivation and leadership effectiveness. Leadership motivation scores depicted high needs for affiliation and moderate needs for power. Leadership effectiveness scores reported by chief nurse officer and chief executive officer (n = 59 pairs) were correlated positively. Significant predictors of leadership effectiveness were job satisfaction, education, professional recognition, and experience, respectively. Those motivated by socialized power needs were in the most complex hospitals, whereas those motivated by affiliation were in the least complex settings. Identification of the motivational needs of successful leaders and aspiring leaders is advocated to provide valid and reliable measures for use in assessment centers and to inform curricula.