Nursing followership development: A concept analysis

Background Historically, organisational success has been credited solely to leadership activities. However, it is important to recognize that leaders collaborate with followers to achieve desired outcomes. In order for followers to effectively in their roles, they must undergo development. Nursing followership development is crucial for nurse followers to enhance leadership and contribute to positive patient outcomes. Despite its significance, there is currently no universally accepted definition of nursing followership development. Aim This study developed a clear definition of nursing followership development. Methods Walker and Avant's method of concept analysis was utilized, following the eight steps. Results Nine studies were included in the analysis, identifying four key attributes: learning, self-awareness, self-regulation, and engagement. Antecedents such as organisational intentionality, authentic leadership, and culture change were found to influence these attributes, with consequences that complemented them. The concept of nursing followership development involves teaching and learning effective followership principles to enhance collaboration between nurses and leaders, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Conclusion and Implementations The clarity of the concept will help in its application in nursing literature and could improve the development of structured followership training programmes for nurses.