Journal of Advanced Nursing

Relationship Between Empowering Leadership, Resilience and Organisational Learning from Incidents: A Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Aim

To examine the relationship between nurse managers' empowering leadership, nurses' resilience and organisational learning from incidents.

Design

Cross-sectional observational study.

Methods

Secondary data from a study conducted in June–July 2022 was used. The sample included 1049 nurses working in three special-functioning hospitals. The self-administered questionnaires assessed nurse managers' empowering behaviours, nurses' resilience and attitudes and behaviours fostering organisational learning from incidents. The analysis employed multilevel analysis with hierarchical linear modelling.

Results

Nurse managers' empowering behaviours and nurses' resilience were significantly positively associated with attitudes and behaviours fostering organisational learning from the following incident subscales: make efforts to identify the problem, discuss safety in the workplace, identify and give feedback to address the at-risk behaviour. The interaction of empowering behaviours and resilience was not significant.

Conclusion

Nurse managers' empowering behaviours and nurses' resilience can contribute to attitudes and behaviours that foster organisational learning, even when nurses face stressful incidents.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Fostering empowering leadership in nurse managers and resilience in nurses enhances organisational learning and improves safety and care quality.

Reporting Method

The reporting is based on the STROBE guidelines.

Patient or Public Contribution

This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.