Nurse performance: A path model of clinical leadership, creative team climate and structural empowerment.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to: (a) identify and examine the influence of clinical leadership, creative team climate (CTC) and structural empowerment (SE) on the nurse performance (NP) of clinical nurses in hospitals in Turkey, and (b) establish a model designed to verify the fit and effect of these factors.

BACKGROUND

Nurse performance is a significant indicator of work efficiency, patient care quality and patient safety. Existing studies explaining the mechanisms that lead to higher nurse performance have been limited.

DESIGN

This descriptive, cross-sectional study used relation prediction modelling and adhered to STROBE guidelines.

METHODS

This study used an online survey to collect data from volunteered 664 clinical nurses working in hospitals in Turkey. The data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0 and the AMOS 24.0 program. Path analysis was used to verify/test the hypothetical model, and the fit was evaluated by χ /df, GFI, AGFI, NFI, CFI, IFI, RFI, TLI, RMR and RMSEA.

RESULTS

The fit index of the modified path model was χ /df = 3.730, GFI = 0.904, AGFI = 0.892, NFI = 0.907, CFI = 0.923, IFI = 0.923, RFI = 0.906, TLI = 0.912, RMR = 0.078 and RMSEA = 0.064. Through creative team climate and structural empowerment, clinical leadership had the greatest standardised direct (β = .35) and indirect (β = .17) effects on clinical nurse performance, the final outcome variable. Creative team climate (β = .23) and structural empowerment (β = .19) also had a significant standardised direct effect on nurse performance. Clinical leadership, creative team climate and structural empowerment explained 39% of the total variance of nurse performance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that clinical nurse performance in hospitals was significantly influenced by clinical leadership, creative team climate and structural empowerment. The results suggest that intervention programmes considering these factors could be implemented to enhance nurse performance.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Improved nurse performance requires strong clinical leadership, creative team climate and structural empowerment. Therefore, healthcare organisations may implement initiatives to enhance nurse performance by taking these factors into account.