The evaluation of a new leadership training program grounded in Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (SBNH-L) for nurses and healthcare leaders shows promising results. In the recently published evaluation articles Evaluation of the effectiveness of a Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership program aimed at building leadership capacity: A concurrent mixed-methods study and Nursing leaders’ perceptions of the impact of the Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership program three months post training, program participants reported higher workplace satisfaction, increased well-being at work, and lower stress levels three months post-training program. These results speak volumes about the effectiveness of the program given that the program was offered at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nursing retention is a longstanding global challenge that has been further exacerbated by what’s been called “the great resignation” – a massive post-pandemic exit of nurses from the healthcare system. Leadership is a key factor influencing nurses’ retention, health, and the quality of nursing care. These evaluation studies are the first of their kind to use a mixed-method approach to explore nursing leaders’ perceptions of the leadership program and they reinforce the importance of using an SBNH-L lens when tackling leadership in healthcare settings. "We are happy to see such profoundly positive changes resulting from the SBNH-L program,” says Mélanie Lavoie-Tremblay RN, PhD, lead author and co-investigator on the SSHRC/CIHR Partnership Grant that funded the SBNH-L Program and its evaluation. “These findings highlight the critical importance of nurturing leadership within the healthcare sector based on identifying, mobilizing and capitalizing on the strengths of nurse leaders and their teams."
Nursing and healthcare leaders are central to mobilizing their clinical teams and helping healthcare organizations reach their patient care objectives. The SBNH-L training program was designed to build the leadership capabilities of nurse and healthcare leaders, helping learners to develop the knowledge and skills required to create an SBNH culture. Program participants were trained to uncover and develop strengths to promote and support leadership, which in turn they can bring to their teams to create healthy and productive environments.
The study’s qualitative analysis highlighted the transformative journey that SBNH-L program participants embarked upon. Three dominant themes emerged from the studies that helped provide deeper insights into the mechanisms driving this change. Participants emphasized a shift towards focusing on people's strengths instead of weaknesses, they incorporated structured approaches and language rooted in SBNH values, and lastly, they established robust support networks through mentorship. The program acted synergically to foster teamwork, create a positive work environment, and show appreciation for staff.
“It’s heartening to have the empirical evidence that a model of leadership and a model of patient care align. Both are grounded in the same foundations and values whereby leaders and clinicians are guided by the same philosophy, anchored in similar values. Both affirm the importance of a human-centered approach where relationships and strengths are its core. This is critical in creating healthy-productive workplaces for staff and creating conditions for health and healing for patients and their families,” says Laurie Gottlieb, RN, PhD, creator of SBNH.
About the SBNH-L Program
The SBNH-L Program was developed and delivered as part of Principal Investigator Laurie Gottlieb’s research partnership Transforming Nurses’ Work Environments Through a Strengths-Based Leadership and Management Training Program (2018-2025) thanks to the support of a CIHR and SSHRC Partnership Grant. This unique, online, six-month program enabled participants to develop their knowledge and skills required to create equitable, culturally safe workplace cultures and environments that honour, develop, mobilize, and capitalize on the strengths of individuals and their team.
The SBNH-L Program was delivered to 121 participating staff from five Canadian healthcare institutions in two cohorts. Participants included nurse managers, nurse leaders, nurse educators, nurses, other healthcare leaders/managers, and those in advanced practice roles. This program included 12 learning modules, a six-month mentorship component, and the support to advance a capstone change project in the workplace.
A holistic approach to leadership
Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership allows leaders to deepen their knowledge of leadership and management principles through a Strengths-Based approach, enabling them to create healthy and productive environments for point-of-care providers and patients. It's a unique, value-driven, embodied approach that guides leaders and managers to create equitable, culturally safe workplace cultures that honour, develop, mobilize, and capitalize on the strengths of individuals and their team. SBNH leaders enable individuals, teams, and organizations to provide knowledgeable, compassionate, safe, high-quality person-centered care.
SBNH-L is derived from Strengths-Based Nursing and Healthcare, a value-driven philosophy and approach to guide clinicians, leaders, educators, and researchers. SBNH is grounded in concepts of person and family centered care, relationships, empowerment, innate and acquired capacities (strengths); and operationalized through eight core values (Gottlieb, 2013).