‘I need support in becoming the leader I would like to be’ – A qualitative descriptive study of nurses newly appointed to positions of leadership

Abstract

Abstract Aim The aim of the study was to understand the experiences of nurses who were newly appointed to a position of leadership including facilitators and barriers to success and what they considered important for the development of their role. Methods We used a qualitative descriptive research design. The study was conducted in Norway with 10 nurses who had been appointed to a leadership position within the last 2 years. Participants were interviewed with individual qualitative interviews which were transcribed and subsequently analysed using thematic analysis. Results The following four main themes were identified from the data: I feel lonely in the leadership position, I am not confident as a leader, I am unsure of the requirements and expectations of me, and I need support and supervision. Conclusion The results underscore the challenges reported by new leaders in nursing and their advocacy for mentorship as a facilitator for success. The qualifications of mentors were emphasised with a need for a comprehensive leadership skill set to address the multifaceted aspects of leadership development.

Keywords

• high workload
• management
• mentoring
• nursing leadership
• stress