Systematic Review on Characteristics and Effects of Leadership Development Interventions for Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: Effective nursing leadership improves health care quality, patient well-being, and nursing staff outcomes. Newly graduated nurses face challenges in transitioning into leadership roles. Thus, examining the leadership development interventions for nursing students is critical. Purpose: This systematic review examined the characteristics and effectiveness of leadership development interventions designed for and implemented with undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A comprehensive search covered Scopus, CINAHL Ultimate, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, WOS Core Collection, Journals@Ovid, JSTOR Journals, and ERIC databases. Included studies were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: The final review comprised 19 studies showcasing positive impacts on leadership development. The interventions varied in leadership approach, design and content, structure, qualifications, student involvement, and outcomes. Conclusions: Leadership development interventions are effective in enhancing nursing students' leadership. Nevertheless, future interventions should prioritize well-structured content, and studies must incorporate robust methodologies.