The influence of authentic leadership on nurses' turnover intentions and satisfaction with quality of care in Saudi Arabia: A structural equation modelling study

AIM(S): The study aimed to test a model that examined the relationships between authentic leadership, psychological safety, work engagement and team effectiveness and subsequent effects of team effectiveness on job turnover intentions and nurse satisfaction with quality of care. BACKGROUND: Nurse leaders who exhibit authentic leadership have been shown to contribute to the development of healthy work environments. In workplaces with demonstrated authentic leadership, nurses are more engaged and have lower job turnover intentions. METHOD(S): A non-experimental, cross-sectional design was used to test the hypothesized model via structural equation modelling. A total of 456 nurses were included. RESULTS: Structural equation modelling analysis indicated a good fit for the hypothesized model. Authentic leadership had a positive, significant and direct relationship with team effectiveness, nurses' work engagement and psychological safety. Team effectiveness was found to be negatively related to job turnover intentions but positively related to nurse satisfaction with quality of care. CONCLUSION(S): Results of this study may help nursing leaders have a better understanding of the essential role of leadership style in increasing healthy work environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Applying authentic leadership style in nursing practice could help to reduce the shortage of nurses stemming from the high turnover intentions of nurses.