This article provides an introduction to the issue of nursing
leadership, addressing definitions and theories underpinning
leadership, factors that enhance leadership in nursing, and the
nature of leadership content taught in undergraduate programmes.
Highlighted are differences between leadership and management, and
the notion that leadership can be ‘learned’. The authors also point
out that there is a discrepancy between how leading undergraduate
nursing programmes prepare students primarily in the transition of
education to practice, and the suggestion from a number of nursing
publications that leadership in nurses should be fostered throughout
their education.