More than a style: the association between managerial behaviors and nurse job satisfaction in Trinidad

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the association between specific nurse manager leadership behaviors and the job satisfaction levels of registered nurses in Trinidad. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A quantitative, descriptive correlational design was employed. A convenience sample of 100 registered nurses from two major public hospitals completed an online survey incorporating the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire (LBDQ-XII) and a researcher-developed Job Satisfaction Scale (Cronbach's a = 0.835). Data were analyzed using Spearman's rho correlations and Chi-square tests. FINDINGS: Behaviors reflecting Consideration (relationship-orientation) were significantly and positively correlated with satisfaction (r = 0.341, p < 0.001). However, the prevalent leadership approach was perceived as high in Initiating Structure (task-orientation) but deficient in relational support. This behavioral imbalance was associated with high levels of nurse dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the work environment (78 % disagreement). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare organizations may consider viewing leadership not as an isolated solution, but as an organizational resource embedded within broader work environment strategies. While competency-based training in relational behaviors (such as active listening and constructive feedback) and balanced promotion criteria may support nurse managers, sustainable improvements in job satisfaction and retention likely require multi-pronged initiatives that concurrently address staffing adequacy, operational workloads and the escalating complexity of clinical care. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: First empirical evidence linking specific managerial behaviors to nurse satisfaction in Trinidad and Tobago. Moving beyond broad leadership styles, it utilizes the LBDQ-XII to identify a specific behavioral imbalance, high task-orientation versus low relational support, as a primary factor associated with workforce dissatisfaction in the Caribbean context.