Nursing department directors' perspectives on leadership training programme: A descriptive qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Leadership training is crucial for nurses to navigate changes, but research on nursing department directors' views of such programmes is limited.

Aim: To explore the perspectives and experiences of nursing department directors regarding a national leadership training programme for mid-level nurse managers.

Design: Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Settings: A national nurses association in Taiwan.

Participants: A purposive sample of 11 nursing department directors who recommended mid-level nurse managers for the programme.

Methods: Eleven individual face-to-face interviews were conducted and analysed thematically between November 2022 and April 2023.

Results: Three themes and eight subthemes emerged, including directors' strategies for identifying potential successors, providing coaching and guidance, and observing changes in trainees. Directors reported the programme broadened perspectives, fostered responsibility, and enhanced leadership skills in mid-level managers.

Conclusions: The engagement of nursing department directors and their adoption of a coaching style, such as fostering a growth mindset, were instrumental in the programme's success.

Keywords: Leadership; Mentoring; Mid-level manager; Nurse administrator; Program evaluation; Successor.