Enhancing Patient Safety Through Leadership: A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Role of Head Nurses in Hospital Settings

Ljudmila Linnik; Jaana Sepp; Karin Reinhold

doi:10.2478/eb-2023-0014

Enhancing Patient Safety Through Leadership: A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Role of Head Nurses in Hospital Settings

Authors

Ljudmila Linnik Tallinn Health Care College, Tallinn University of Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5121-920X
Jaana Sepp Tallinn Health Care College https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1624-8580
Karin Reinhold Tallinn University of Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3608-2354

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/eb-2023-0014

Keywords:

Leadership, nurse, patient outcomes, safety management, safety culture

Abstract

The aim of the study is to analyse the process through which nursing management affects patient outcomes to promote a culture of safety. Patient safety has moral, ethical, and economic implications. Medical errors significantly increase healthcare costs, prolong hospital stays and lead to the need for additional treatment, accompanied by legal expenses that can impact the reputation of a healthcare institution. Therefore, patient safety in healthcare is important, and the role of management in shaping this culture and practice is central. To achieve this goal, a systematic review is conducted, including searches in electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO Discovery, MedLine, EBSCO host, and ScienceDirect, from the year 2013 onwards. Additionally, manual searches are carried out in leading journals in the field. After evaluating and analysing the articles, 28 remain, focusing on four main themes: nurse engagement and patient safety climate, the impact of management style on patient outcomes, challenges in implementing safety culture in practice, and innovative practices and general management skills. Based on the results, it can be argued that a transformative nursing leadership style plays a significant role in reducing unfavourable patient outcomes. These findings emphasize the involvement of nursing leaders and the associated challenges in addition to proposing strategies for enhancing patient safety and shaping the future of nursing management in the healthcare system.

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