IMPACT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP ON UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENT'S BEHAVOIR AT PRIVATE NURSING COLLEGES

Abstract

Background: Transformational leadership is a trending style and competency that has been embraced by many Nursing Institutions. Unfortunately, Nursing Institutes lack the essential awareness and implementation of transformational leadership (TFL). Pre-licensure nursing students do not often practice these skills in a meaningful way during their undergraduate educational experience and don’t operate effectively in today's healthcare environment. If transformational leadership is employed by administration and nursing faculty as a guiding framework for nursing students, the impact of embedding could be significant on the nursing profession. There is a dire need to adopt this style to improve nursing student’s behavior, their knowledge and skills.

Method:

This study was conducted using a descriptive and cross-sectional design within the framework of quantitative research methods. The study was conducted in four private Nursing Institutes affiliated with the University of Health Sciences in Pakistan. The study group consisted of a sample group of 317 nursing students in total. 

Results:

The results showed that transformational leadership was positively and significantly related to innovative behavior (p < 0.001). There was a positive relationship between psychological counselling and innovative behavior (β = 0.406, p < 0.001). Psychological counselling had a positive mediating effect on the relationship between transformational leadership and innovative behavior (β = 0.291, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study examined the effect of transformational leadership on innovative student’s behaviors and the role of psychological counselling in mediating this relationship. The findings show that transformational leadership positively affects nursing students’ innovative behaviors, and this effect is strengthened through psychological counselling.