Academic Leadership Style Predictors for Nursing Faculty Job Satisfaction in Taiwan

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of nursing deans' and nursing directors' transformational and transactional leadership styles on nursing faculty job satisfaction in baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs in Taiwan. The study provides a mechanism by which nursing deans or nursing directors can obtain feedback from nursing faculty about leadership styles. Such feedback can then serve as the basis for further development of academic nursing leadership potential in Taiwan. The theory of transformational versus transactional leadership style guided this study. A cross-sectional mailed survey design was conducted. A convenience sample of 233 nursing faculty participated in this study. Idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, and contingent reward leadership styles significantly and positively predicted job satisfaction. However, active management-by-exception significantly and negatively predicted job satisfaction. Nursing leaders should implement effective leadership styles. Study implications for nursing education administration, limitations, and recommendations for future studies were discussed.