Background: Work well-being can affect performance and quality of care. Previous literature described the influence of leadership styles on nurse turnover, job satisfaction, attitudes and behaviours. There is a need to explore more nurses' perception of their leaders and related effects in the work environment.
Aim: The aim of this study was to explore relationships between nurses' inspiration by the leader and nurses perceptions of work pleasure, work problems, and teamwork satisfaction.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional pilot study based on the theory of social exchange (Gouldner, 1960). We administered some of QEEW instrument scales to nurses working in five medical-surgical wards of a hospital. Simple linear regression analysis were performed.
Results: We received 81 completed questionnaires. The inspiration by the leader showed to be an antecedent of work pleasure (R2=26%), work problems (R2=30%), and teamwork satisfaction (R2=28%).
Conclusions: An inspiring leadership was associated with nurse perceptions of reduced work problems, and increased teamwork satisfaction and work pleasure. The role of the leader and the use of an appropriate leadership style is therefore essential to increase levels of well-being in nurses. Future studies with a larger sample are needed to confirm our findings.
Nursing implications: Our results suggest that leadership style has a prediction effect on perceived nurse well-being. Moreover, leadership style has an impact on work climate and interdisciplinary teamwork. Therefore, chief executives should invest energies in leadership training and continuing education in order to develop among ward manager's effective leadership competencies.