What are the Barriers to Effective Nurse Leadership? A Review

The aim of this review was to examine the evidence regarding barriers to nurse leadership. Nurses comprise the largest segment of the healthcare workforce. Nursing has consistently been ranked as the most respected position by United States Gallop Poles with the exception of 2011 when fire fighters were ranked number 1. However, the percentage of nurse hospital and health system board members dropped from 6% in 2011 to 5% in 2014 (American Nurses Association 2015). Why are nurses not moving into these highest levels of healthcare organizational leadership? Historically it has been difficult to find staff nurses willing to pursue leadership positions. What are the barriers for staff nurses to move into leadership positions? What are the barriers for effective nurse leadership? An electronic literature search for "nurse leadership barriers" was conducted using Pubmed, CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and Cochrane Collection Plus databases published between January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2017. Multiple barriers to nurse leadership development were identified from the literature. Resources for leadership preparation was not seen as much of a priority for nurses as in some of the other healthcare disciplines.