The Relationship between Nursing Leadership and Patient Readmission Rate: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Nurse leaders play a fundamental role in improving patient quality care delivery, thus improving patient clinical outcomes. Purpose: This systematic review examined the knowledge to date of nursing leadership on reducing patient readmission rates. Methods: A literature review was conducted using seven electronic databases: Medline Ovid, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) Plus, Emerald, PsycINFO, ABI/INFORM collection, and EBSCO, with the addition of references for relevant papers reviewed. Findings: The search resulted in a total of 15 articles. Findings revealed that leadership practices of nurses have an impact on reducing patient readmission rates. Conclusions: The results suggest a need for further rigorous studies investigating the mechanism of how nursing leadership relates to patient readmission rates and how to translate this into practice across diverse cultures.