Nurse leadership development in Malta

Abstract

Introduction: Leadership development has been studied extensively in many of the larger countries around the world, but there has been very limited research on nursing leadership development within small island countries. Purpose: Explorative semistructured interviews underpinned by a phenomenological philosophy were conducted to seek understanding of the meaning attributed to the nursing leadership development within the Maltese culture. Method: Six nurse leaders from administration, advanced practice, and academic backgrounds participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic data analysis was conducted with a focus on the competencies of nurse leadership within the context of authentic leadership theory. Results: Themes moved from a general discussion of the wider cultural setting (Cultural Integration) to a more focused observation of practical factors that contribute to leadership growth (Developing as a Leader), to a personal reflection on their own experiences and journeys (Self-Reflection in Leadership). Indeed, 15 subthemes supported the broad themes addressed in the present study, providing additional context and detail. Discussion: Nurse leadership strategies identified during this study may be effective in similar small island cultures.