Relationship between Leadership Styles and Span of Control of the Head Nurses at Zagazig University Hospitals

Ata, Azza A; Elsayed, Neamat M; Abdeen, Maha A

doi:10.21608/znj.2010.40088

Relationship between Leadership Styles and Span of Control of the Head Nurses at Zagazig University Hospitals

Authors

¹ Assistant lecturer, Nursing Administration Dep., faculty of nursing, Zagazig University

² Prof. of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

³ Lecturer of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University

10.21608/znj.2010.40088

Abstract

Health care is facing number of challenges in the 21^st century. All of these challenges require effective leadership and successful leader able to help people meet all of these challenges. In addition, leadership style helps in not only achievement of organizational goals but also will release energies for personal growth and development. Span of control is also considered a useful concept for measuring the closeness of contact between the manager and staff. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between leadership styles (traditional & advanced) and span of control of the head nurses at Zagazig University Hospitals. A descriptive design was utilized with a sample of 56 head nurses and systematic random sample of 151 staff nurses working at all inpatient units in Zagazig University Hospitals. Data were collected by two questionnaire sheets one for the head nurses composed of three parts and the other for staff nurses composed of two parts. Results revealed that there was no statistically significant relationship between leadership styles of the head nurses and span of control. More than half of the head nurses rated themselves as transformational leaders. However, more than quarter of staff nurses described them as autocratic leaders and this differentiation was statistically significant. Head nurses and staff nurses mentioned that there were negative relations between leadership styles explaining that head nurses used a single style in the different situations. Therefore, it is recommended that continuous follow up and evaluation would help head nurses to use different leadership styles, according to the different situations rather than using a single pattern and there is a need to establish a policy and guidelines regarding to the number of subordinates, head nurses can effectively supervise allowing them to have time to support nurses and be available for monitoring and development.

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