Ethical Leadership Outcomes in Nursing: a Qualitative Study

Introduction

Leadership is an essential role that may either have a direct or indirect effect on an organization through the employees’ morale, customers’ satisfaction, and reputation of the company. In addition to the leadership’s impact on the organization and its principles, leaders are often viewed as role models for the members. It is crucial that leaders are not only qualified and skilled for the job, but also ethical in their daily conduct. But what does it truly mean to be an ethical leader? The article describes an ethical leader as someone who is honest, altruistic, disciplined, and makes right and harmonious decisions. Ethical leadership in nursing consists of character, conduct, and institutional practices (Ashktorab, Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, & Barkhordari-Sharifabad, 2017). The qualitative studies conducted on nursing imply that ethical leadership has a significant impact on reducing turnover, increasing competency, and enhancing job satisfaction, including respect for the quality of care, organizational commitment, civil behavior, empowerment, and safety and risk management in nurses.

Impact on Patients and Organizational Efficacy

Furthermore, the consequences also show a positive effect on patients and organizational efficacy (Huang & Tsai, 2008). Thus, a leadership style that pays attention to ethical dimensions is needed to improve the outcomes for nurses, patients, and the healthcare organization. One of the categories obtained in the data analysis was an all-inclusive satisfaction of all stakeholders, which included the managers, personnel, and patients. By abiding by ethical values and principles, the nursing leader can achieve inner satisfaction and happiness, as well as the satisfaction of nurses and patients (Ashktorab, Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, & Barkhordari-Sharifabad, 2017). Moreover, ethical leadership fosters a culture of trust and transparency, which is vital for the smooth functioning of healthcare settings.

Productivity and Ethical Climate

On the other hand, productivity is another category extracted from the data. Nurse leaders with strong ethical commitment serve as role models to motivate their colleagues to provide quality care to the patients (Ashktorab, Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, & Barkhordari-Sharifabad, 2017). Nurses may learn their ways and adapt to the ethical climate if their leader demonstrates ethical and honest behavior. This ethical climate encourages open communication and fosters a collaborative environment, which is crucial for handling complex patient care situations.

Consequences of Unethical Leadership

On the contrary, the unethical behavior of nurse leaders may lead to nurses refusing to responsibly fulfill their tasks, which, in return, might cause harm or dissatisfaction with the care provided to the patients. The takeaway from the article is that when leaders establish a good foundation of commitment to ethical behavior, then other employees will also adhere to a high standard of work conduct, which results in patient satisfaction and a good reputation for the company. For example, a nurse manager on a medical-surgical floor who demonstrates the expected level of responsibility in preparation, implementation, documentation, and promotion of continuity in the care of clients is more likely to have peers who follow his/her standards of work ethic.

Conclusion

Furthermore, nurse leaders who are honest and respectful are likely to gain more followers as well as mutual respect and trust from their personnel. Not only are the patients satisfied with the quality of care provided to them, but the other nurses are also more likely to enjoy working in an ethical environment. The results of the study may help nurse managers recognize the outcomes of their ethical behavior in the workplace environment. In conclusion, fostering ethical leadership in nursing is not just beneficial but necessary for ensuring high standards of patient care and creating a positive and productive work environment.

References

Ashktorab, T., Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, F., & Barkhordari-Sharifabad, M. (2017). Ethical Leadership Outcomes in Nursing: A Qualitative Study.

Huang, T., & Tsai, C. (2008). The Impact of Ethical Leadership on Patient and Organizational Efficacy.