Leadership ethics
The practices of nurse managers are essential in facilitating an organizational culture that makes a healthy workplace for nurses. A key element of a healthy work environment is trust between staff and their leaders. The leadership ethics and trustworthiness of nurse managers are key components of such a culture. Nurse managers can be seen as professional role models and ethical leaders responsible for influencing nurses and their nursing values (Winston 2007, Wong & Cummings 2009, Gallagher & Tschudin 2010). Furthermore, some studies suggest that supportive leadership behaviours and trust in management are necessary for entrenching nursing values; and this includes empowering nurses to voice their concerns and offer suggestions for improving their workplaces and nursing care (Reave 2005, Wong & Cummings 2009, Bjarnason & Ann 2011). By adhering to moral values of honesty and fairness, transformational nursing managers are able to put in place a support system that allows nursing staff the opportunity to fully utilize their potential and effectiveness (Kane-Urrabazo 2006).