# An Exploration of Nurse Manager Leadership Styles and the Effect on Work Engagement Among Staff Nurses: A Mixed‐Method Study

## TL;DR

This study explores how nurse managers' leadership styles affect staff nurses' work engagement in a multicultural healthcare setting in Saudi Arabia.

## Contribution

The study introduces a mixed-method approach to identify key leadership themes influencing nurse engagement in a multicultural context.

## Key findings

- Four key themes emerged: relational leadership, recognition and reward, neglectful leadership, and cultural competence.
- Cultural differences influenced how Saudi and non-Saudi nurses perceived leadership styles.
- The study used GRAMMS guidelines to ensure rigorous mixed-method reporting.

## Abstract

To provide a comprehensive understanding of how nurse managers' leadership styles affect staff engagement and to identify key themes that influence engagement from both statistical and experiential perspectives within a multicultural healthcare context.

Explanatory sequential mixed‐methods design, with integration occurring across the design, methods and reporting stages using the Pillar Integration Process.

The study was conducted in four public hospitals in western Saudi Arabia. Quantitative data were collected from 278 registered nurses using the validated Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ‐5X) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES‐9). Thirteen nurses participated in follow‐up semi‐structured interviews. The study adhered to the Good Reporting of a Mixed Methods Study (GRAMMS) guidelines.

Four integrated themes emerged: relational leadership, recognition and reward, impact of neglectful leadership and cultural competence in leadership. Saudi and non‐Saudi nurses perceived leadership differently, influenced by cultural norms.

No patient or public contribution.