Are Nurses Innovative or Ambidextrous Leaders? An Evaluation from the Perspective of Prospective Nurses: A Structural Equation Modeling-Multiple Group Analysis

Abstract

Aims: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the innovative and ambidextrous lead-ership qualities of nurses from the students' perspective with the structural model. Background: Nurses with leadership qualities help students become nurses with a leading spirit and be open to innovations. Materials and methods: It is a cross-sectional and correlational study. The sample consisted of 286 nursing stu-dents in eastern Turkey. To collect the data, a Descriptive Information Form, the Innovative Leadership Scale, and the Ambidextrous Leadership Scale were used. Structural equation model, multiple group analysis, maximum likelihood estimation, and fit indexes were utilized to evaluate the data. Results: Student nurses reported that the nurses' opening and closing behaviors affected being entrepreneur (beta(2 )= 0.42; beta(2 ) = 0.24), motivating others (beta(2 ) = 0.45; beta(2 ) = 0.22), being open to new ideas (beta(2 ) = 0.21; beta(2 ) = 0.16), being a changemaker (beta(2 ) = 0.20), and being energetic (beta(2 ) = 0.13) in a positive and meaningful way. According to those who thought they had innovative qualities, the ambidextrous leadership behaviors of nurses significantly affected being entrepreneur, motivating others, and being open to new ideas, which are among innovative leadership behaviors (Z > 1.96; p < 0.05). Conclusion: As nurses' opening and closing behaviors increased, innovative leader qualities such as being an entrepreneur, being open to new ideas, motivating others, being a changemaker, and being energetic also increased. Innovative students evaluated the leadership qualities of nurses positively. Implications for nursing education: The study contributes to students' recognition and evaluation of leadership and innovation qualities that nurses should have.