Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Aug;81(8):4910-4922.
doi: 10.1111/jan.16662. Epub 2024 Dec 25.

Excellent Nursing Leadership Towards Magnet Culture Among Nurse Leaders: An Interview Study

Anu Nurmeksela  1 , Tarja Tervo-Heikkinen  2 , Kristiina Junttila  3   4 , Asta Heikkilä  5 , Marja Kaunonen  6   7 , Tiina Kortteisto  7 , Jaana Peltokoski  8 , Susanne Salmela  9 , Riitta Suhonen  5   10 , Tarja Kvist  1
Affiliations

Excellent Nursing Leadership Towards Magnet Culture Among Nurse Leaders: An Interview Study

Anu Nurmeksela et al. J Adv Nurs. 2025 Aug.

Abstract

Aims: This study describes nurse leaders' experiences of nursing leadership in Finland towards Magnet hospital culture.

Design: This is a qualitative descriptive study.

Methods: The data from nurse leaders (n = 9) were collected in face-to-face or online interviews in June and August 2023 in Finland and analysed using an inductive content analysis approach.

Results: Excellent nursing leadership consists of possibilities for impact, the determination of responsibilities, strong leadership in the organisation, interpersonal leadership, the empowerment of nurses' excellence and nursing leadership development. In addition, excellent nursing leadership creates the basis for development structures and nurses' participation in a Magnet culture framework.

Conclusion: Excellent nursing leadership requires ability and opportunities for impact, clear responsibilities and strong interpersonal competencies so that nurses are empowered to strive for excellence. Strong nursing leadership is needed to enable functioning structures that produce efficient processes that can be used to maintain and develop the quality of nursing work in the direction of Magnet culture.

Implications for the profession: Nurse leaders' status and power must be recognised and legislated as equally as those of other professional leaders in social and health care.

Impact: This study addresses nurse leaders' remarkable role in nursing development towards Magnet hospital culture. At the same time, it discusses their uncertain position in the decision-making process of the organisation.

Reporting method: COREQ guidelines were used in reporting.

Patient or public contribution: None.

Keywords: empowerment; hospital; leadership; nursing; organisational culture.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Excellent nursing leadership.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Structures and processes for development and participation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. ANCC . 2024. “Magnet Model—Creating a Magnet Culture.” American Nurses Credential Center. https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational‐programs/magnet/magnet‐model/.
    1. Asif, M. , Jameel A., Hussain A., Hwang J., and Sahito N.. 2019. “Linking Transformational Leadership With Nurse‐Assessed Adverse Patient Outcomes and the Quality of Care: Assessing the Role of Job Satisfaction and Structural Empowerment.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 13: 1–15. 10.3390/ijerph16132381. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cypress, B. S. 2017. “Rigor or Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research: Perspectives, Strategies, Reconceptualization, and Recommendations.” Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing 36, no. 4: 253–263. 10.1097/DCC.0000000000000253. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Engström, M. , Mårtensson G., Pålsson Y., and Strömberg A.. 2022. “What Relationships Can Be Found Between nurses' Working Life and Turnover? A Mixed‐Methods Approach.” Journal of Nursing Management 30, no. 1: 288–297. 10.1111/jonm.13494. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK . 2023. “The Finnish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and Procedures for Handling Alleged Violations of Research Integrity in Finland.” In Publications of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK 4/2023. Helsinki. https://tenk.fi/sites/default/files/2023‐11/RI_Guidelines_2023.pdf.

LinkOut - more resources