Researching leadership is challenging, as there is no direct link between the actions of leaders and their outcomes. What is the best approach to nurse leadership – if there is such a thing? What evidence is there on the effectiveness of different leadership styles? Despite overwhelming interest in leadership within the profession, there is surprisingly little evidence about what actually works, and much of the narrative is based on received wisdom or personal experience. Download the Nursing Times Journal Club handout here to distribute with the article before your journal club meeting.Scroll down to read the article or download a print-friendly PDF here.This article has been double-blind peer reviewed.One thing is certain: success hinges on good relationships between leaders and teams.Ĭitation: Maxwell E (2017) Good leadership in nursing: what is the most effective approach? Nursing Times 113: 8, 18-21.Īuthor: Elaine Maxwell is associate professor in leadership, School of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University. What emerges is that different approaches are needed according to what leaders set out to achieve.

This article outlines different leadership theories, describing how they can be applied to nursing and how effective they are.

There is no simple answer to the complex question of what makes good leadership in nursing, despite the existence of evidence showing that it can have a positive impact on both patient experience and outcomes, and nurse satisfaction and retention.

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