Leadership competencies in public health: implications for nursing leadership – a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose Effective leadership in public health organisations is essential for achieving positive outcomes and ensuring the quality of healthcare services. This review aimed to identify the competencies that nurse leaders of organisations working in the field of public health need to perform their tasks effectively. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive method with a scoping review was used, searching the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL databases. A total of 16 references were suitable for the final analysis. A summative literature analysis was conducted, identifying leadership competencies (N = 69) across various sources. The identified competencies were analysed by qualitative approach. Findings Competencies were categorised in 11 groups: Identifying Needs and Continuous Improvement; Strategic Planning in Line with Vision and Mission; Ensuring Professional Development; Maintaining Motivation; Delegating and Managing Tasks; Communication Skills; Building and Maintaining Relationships with Decision Makers; Problem Solving and Conflict Management; Tracking Professional Trends and Using Accurate Information; Resource Management and Human Resource Management; Organising Work. Originality/value The 11 groups of leadership competencies for nurses in public health organisations provide a content direction for educational activities aimed at nurse leaders and summarise the most important competencies required for effective leadership in public health organisations. Competent leadership is vital for the success and effectiveness of public health organisations in delivering quality healthcare services and addressing the evolving healthcare needs. Further research within specific field in public health is recommended to identify additional, field-specific competencies essential for effective leadership in diverse organisational settings.