Challenges and strategies in effective nursing leadership: viewpoints of nurses in management positions – a qualitative study

Purpose To explore the viewpoints of nurses in management positions on the challenges they face and the strategies they use to promote effective leadership in the nursing workplace. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study involved 42 Brazilian nurses in management positions, working in various settings across Brazil, who responded to open-ended online questions between January 1, 2025 and February 15, 2025. Findings Five themes were identified: (1) highlighted leadership styles, (2) difficulties of leading the nursing team, (3) strategies used to solve problems in the leadership process, (4) learning to lead and (5) making nursing leadership more effective. Research limitations/implications The study presents important perspectives from nurses in managerial positions on the key role that effective leadership plays in fostering healthy work environments in nursing. Nevertheless, it has some limitations, including the use of self-report questionnaires, regional imbalance among participants, potential bias due to data analysis being conducted by a single researcher and the absence of an assessment based on the leader–member exchange framework. Practical implications Nurses in management positions recognize the importance of empowering team members. Nurse managers should receive proper education to competently assume their leadership responsibilities. Originality/value The study highlights the need to revise nursing curricula to incorporate early and continuous leadership education, supported by ongoing in-service programs. It also emphasizes the importance of fostering team cohesion through open communication, mutual respect and shared goals. Additionally, it is pointed out that upper management should empower nurse leaders at all levels and provide regular, constructive feedback to support effective leadership.