Discussion
There were five items that distinguished between wards with
positive leadership scores and those with negative scores,
namely:
• A nurse manager or immediate supervisor who is a good
manager or leader
• Nurse managers consult with staff on daily problems and
procedures
• Flexible or modified work schedules are available
• A senior nursing administrator who is highly visible and
accessible to staff
• Praise and recognition for a job well done.
An immediate nurse manager who is perceived to be a good
leader and manager by the staff is also related to job
satisfaction and retention. Less clear is the qualities or
characteristics that may assist staff’s positive perception of
the occupants of this role. However, there are some ‘clues’
from the results. Providing positive feedback and leadership
to staff is a critical management skill. For instance, as Doran
et al. (2004) found, nurse managers with a positive leadership
style had more satisfied staff and lower levels of staff turnover
than nurse managers who adopted a negative leadership style.
Providing positive feedback and recognising staff achieve-
ments helps to create a positive practice environment where
staff members feel valued and appreciated (Lyons et al. 2003,
Hirst 2005, Gess et al. 2008). Additionally, creating a
positive practice environment where staff are recognised
and praised for their achievements has been found to be
associated with decreased turnover and increased organisa-
tional commitment (Manion 2004, Force 2005, Gess et al.
2008).