Nurses' Proactive Behavior, Relational Coordination, and Professional identity as Predictors of Head Nurses' Relational Leadership

Relational leadership skills have been acknowledged as essential of improving the performance of
the health system. To keep up with the changes in healthcare, proactive behavior, relationship
coordination, and professional identity are deemed to be excellent qualities that all nurses should
possess. An important strategy for enhancing nurses' qualities is relational leadership. Purpose:
This study aimed to assess nurses' proactive behavior, relational coordination, and professional
identity as predictors of head nurses' relational leadership. Methods: A descriptive correlational
design was utilized. The study was conducted at all critical care units at Emergency Menoufia
University hospital. A simple random sample of one hundred nurses comprised the study 's sample.
Four tools were used: the nurses' proactive behavior scale, relational coordination scale,
professional identity, and head nurse's relational leadership from nurses' perspectives. Results:
There was a high statistical association between relational leadership and both of proactive
behavior, and the relational coordination (p<0.0001). Concerning the association of relational
leadership with professional identity, it was not applicable to do statistical analysis as all nurses
showed only one level of professional identity (high level). Conclusion: Based on the study
findings, the predictors of head nurses' relational leadership are proactive behavior, and relational
coordination. On the other hand, professional identity was excluded as a predictor.
Recommendations: Enrich and update the awareness of head nurses about relational leadership via
workshops and programs. Activating evidence-based research regarding nurses' proactive behavior
and relational coordination in practice. Increase awareness among nurse administrators and hospital
directors about relational leadership.