Relationship between different leadership styles of nursing managers and nurses' turnover intention in hospitals: an integrative review.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize the current evidence on the relationship between different management leadership styles and nurses' turnover intentions in hospital settings.

BACKGROUND

A shortage of nurses is a common problem in healthcare institutions in many countries. In this context, retaining nurses has become a critical priority for healthcare organizations.

METHODS

An integrative review was conducted. A comprehensive search strategy was implemented to retrieve articles from PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Articles were screened and evaluated using a pre-determined eligibility criteria and a quality assessment process.

RESULTS

Out of 237 articles screened, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Sixteen management leadership styles were identified, five of which transformational, ethical, inclusive, servant and authentic- were found to have a negative influence on nurses' turnover, and four were associated with a positive impact. We identified fourteen different instruments for measuring turnover intention.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare managers should encourage the adoption of effective leadership styles to enhance nurse retention and embed this approach within the organizational culture of the healthcare facilities.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.