Improving Leadership Competence Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: Innovative Objectives Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify baccalaureate nursing leadership objectives and evaluate their effectiveness when embedded into an undergraduate nursing curriculum.

Background: The objectives of nursing leadership competencies cannot be met in one semester but must be gradually developed over successive courses.

Methods: A list of learning objectives for leadership competence was generated and reviewed by 12 experts using the Delphi method. The consensuses objectives were embedded into a four-year nursing baccalaureate curriculum in Taiwan. Nursing students (N = 120) who participated in the courses evaluated the embedded objectives of leadership competency introduced in their undergraduate nursing program. Leadership competence was improved among students on nine items (t = 2.282 to 5.741, p = .001 to .030) of the Nursing Leadership Competence Assessment Scale for Undergraduate Nursing Students.

Conclusions: The results can serve as a reference for universities seeking to promote nursing leadership education.