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 Jun 16:2025:9980485.
doi: 10.1155/jonm/9980485. eCollection 2025.

The Impact of Nurse Managers' Transformational Leadership on Nurses' Work Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study

Anu Nurmeksela  1 , Katju Schavoronkoff  1   2 , Krista Jokiniemi  1
Affiliations

The Impact of Nurse Managers' Transformational Leadership on Nurses' Work Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study

Anu Nurmeksela et al. J Nurs Manag. .

Abstract

This study aimed to describe nurses' evaluations of their work engagement, their perceptions of their managers' transformational leadership, and the relationships between these factors. A cross-sectional study design was employed. The Transformational Leadership Scale was used to measure the transformational leadership qualities of nurse managers. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9) was used to measure nurses' work engagement. The data were analyzed using statistical tests, the Pearson correlation coefficient, and linear regression analysis. Among the work engagement subscales, nurses scored highest on dedication to work (mean 4.14, SD 1.22) and lowest on vigor (mean 3.68, SD 1.9). For transformational leadership subscales, giving feedback and rewards received the lowest scores (mean of 2.64, SD 1.02), while management of the nursing process scored the highest (mean 3.25, SD 0.92). The correlation between transformational leadership and work engagement was statistically significant (r = 0.367, p < 0.001). In conclusion, transformational leadership by nurse managers may increase nurses' work engagement. Nurse managers can develop and incorporate transformational leadership traits through training programs. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking transformational leadership to nurses' work engagement.

Keywords: nurse; nurse manager; transformational leadership; well-being; work engagement.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. WHO. Nursing and Midwifery . World Health Organization; 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nursing-and-midwifery .
    1. Dopelt K., Levi B., Davidovitch N. Identifying Distinctive Traits of Healthcare Leaders in Israel: In-Depth Interviews with Senior Physicians – An Exploratory Study. Leadership in Health Services . 2021;34(3):263–279. doi: 10.1108/LHS-08-2020-0059. - DOI
    1. Mazzetti G., Robledo E., Vignoli M., Topa G., Guglielmi D., Schaufeli W. B. Work Engagement: A Meta-Analysis Using the Job Demands-Resources Model. Psychological Reports . 2023;126(3):1069–1107. doi: 10.1177/00332941211051988. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Porter M. T., Urban R. W. Work Engagement, Burnout, and Well-Being in Nursing Professional Development Practitioners. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development . 2024;40(1):E34–E40. doi: 10.1097/NND.0000000000001011. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Tomietto M., Paro E., Sartori R., et al. Work Engagement and Perceived Work Ability: An Evidence-Based Model to Enhance Nurses’ Well-Being. Journal of Advanced Nursing . 2019;75(9):1933–1942. doi: 10.1111/jan.13981. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources