The leadership potential of generation Y practitioner nurses : basis for a developmental framework

Abstract

Background This study addresses the global leadership crisis in healthcare. Generation Y nurses are the face of the future for the nursing profession and they will soon form the majority cohort of nurses worldwide. Leaders look similar all over the world, and Filipino nurses are now working in most countries. Their leadership ability will no doubt impact on healthcare worldwide. There has been a lack of academic research focusing on the leadership needs of Generation Y nurses, and in particular a lack of mixed methods research in this field. Aim The aim of the study was to develop a sustainable, structured, Generation Y appropriate leadership framework for practitioner nurses, incorporating the knowledge, skills and abilities required so that they are adequately prepared to fulfil leadership at the bedside. Methodology The study design was a multistage mixed methods advanced framework, with concurrent and sequential phases. The design suitably addressed the quantitative and qualitative research questions. Integration occurred at multiple levels. The Relationship-Based Care (RBC) model was adapted to serve as the theoretical framework. Data was collected on Generation Y Filipino nurses working at a hospital in Saudi Arabia. The data collection methods included the online VIA-24 strengths survey, the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) leadership survey on ‘the leader within’ using Benner’s rating scale, and semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The quantitative data was analysed using statistical measures, while the qualitative data was analysed using Tesch’s coding and thematic analysis. Findings The three sets of data revealed insights into the perceptions, leadership needs and leadership development of Generation Y nurses. The significant findings were that Generation Y nurse’s rate ‘fairness’ as the most important character strength and they want equal opportunity to take on leadership roles. The character of a leader determines leadership ability and effectiveness, and they believe they have leadership ability, and that anyone can lead. Generation Y nurses are keen to take the lead, but they need further personal and professional development, and a clear career plan. They value collaborative teamwork, relationships and good communication. They have a clear leadership vision, and strongly desire leadership education that is creative, innovative, technology-driven and fun. They want to learn through active learning and reflective practice. The outcome of the study led to the development of a leadership framework for practitioner nurses that can be used to prepare them for future leadership roles.