Nurse Managers’ Leadership Styles And Turnover Intention Among Nurses In Brong Ahafo Region - Ghana

ABSTRACT Turnover intention is the conceived idea by nurses to leave one hospital for another or to quit the nursing profession for another job. The shortage of nurses in healthcare organizations is a global concern. Retention of nurses can be ensured with effective leadership and managerial practices resulting in quality health care delivery. This study investigated the leadership styles of Nurse Managers and its influence on the turnover intention of nurses in Hospitals in the Brong Ahafo Region - Ghana. A quantitative approach using a cross-sectional survey was employed to collect data from two hundred and fifty (250) nurses working in five selected hospitals in Brong Ahafo Region - Ghana. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics revealed that Nurse Managers working in hospitals in Brong Ahafo Region – Ghana practices five leadership styles (Transformational, Transactional, Laissez-Faire, Participative and Autocratic). However, participatory and transformational leadership styles are predominantly practiced by Nurse Managers in the Units/Departments while transactional, autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles are occasionally practiced. Correlation analysis revealed a negative and significant relationship between participative and transformational leadership styles and turnover intention. There was a positive and significant relationship between autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles and turnover intention. Furthermore, demographic characteristics of nurses were not significantly related to turnover intention in this study. Using multiple regression, nurses work experience and leadership styles of their Nurse Managers were significant predictors for turnover intention. The study variables explained 38.4% of the variance in nurses’ turnover intention. The findings of this study support and expand knowledge on the utilization of participative and transformational leadership styles by Nurse Managers over autocratic and laissez-faire styles in the Unit/Department to reduce turnover intention. Ghana Health Service should strengthen comprehensive in-service training programmes on leadership in nursing as a proactive strategy for preventing turnover intention among nurses