The impact of leadership styles on nurses’ satisfaction and intention to stay among Saudi nurses

AIM: To examine the impact of leadership styles of nurse managers on Saudi nurses' job satisfaction and their intent to stay at work. BACKGROUND: Increasing nurses' satisfaction is one of the key elements in meeting challenges of quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and retention of staff nurses in hospitals. METHODS: This study used a descriptive correlational design. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X), Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), the McCain's Intent to Stay Scale and a demographic form were used to collect the data from a convenience sample of 308 Saudi nurses. RESULTS: Saudi nurses were moderately satisfied in their jobs. In addition, nurses were more satisfied with leaders who demonstrated transformational leadership styles, and those who were more satisfied with their jobs intended to say at work. The background variables, the transformational leadership style and the transactional style explained 32% of the variation in job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study emphasized the importance of transformational leadership, which indicates the need for further attention to training and development of effective leadership behaviours. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse administrators in Saudi Arabia should capitalize on the importance of transformational leadership style in enhancing the level of job satisfaction.