The Impact of the Nightingale Nursing Leadership Institute's Training Program on Core Competencies in Program Participants: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Methods Study
Background: The Taiwan Nurses Association has organized the Nightingale Nursing Leadership Institute (NNLI) training program since 2009 to further cultivate leadership and strategic thinking capabilities in nursing professionals. Over the past decade, NNLI has become a key platform for nursing leadership development in Taiwan.
Objective: This study was designed to evaluate impact of the NNLI training program on participants' core competencies in communication, leadership, policy and political participation, macro-level perspectives, social impact, and personal growth.
Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted. From October 2022 to April 2023, an online survey and focus group interviews were conducted NNLI graduates from 2011 to 2020. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed based on the NNLI core competency framework.
Results: The average post-training scores for core competencies were 4.33 for communication skills (with average scores of >4 for all items in this category), 4.23 for leadership skills, 3.67 for political skills, 3.83 for policy implementation, and 3.91 for external awareness. Moreover, the average score of 5.94 for external engagement in policy and political participation was lower than that of 7.15 for internal engagement. Also, the average scores for personal growth, social impact, and macro-level perspectives were 8.58, 7.50, and 8.79, respectively. The focus group interviews revealed the NNLI program broadened the participants' perspectives, strengthened their connections with nursing organizations, and enhanced their communication and leadership skills. However, most participants had no prior experience in policy and political engagement, their related practical experience in this arena was limited. The results of the generalized linear model analysis revealed age, educational level, and managerial position to significantly influence communication, leadership, and personal growth.
Conclusions: The NNLI training program significantly enhances the core competencies of its participants in the realms communication, leadership, personal growth, social impact, and macro-level perspectives. Thus, this program may be treated as a benchmark for nursing leadership training nationwide. Future programs should incorporate mentorship mechanisms to help participants integrate theoretical knowledge with practical policy and political engagement, thereby enhancing participants' confidence and practical skills in these areas.