Unveiling the hidden connection: Investigating the relationship between shared leadership and missed nursing care

Objectives: This study examined the levels of shared leadership and missed nursing care and their
relationship among nurses in Egypt.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. From February to April 2024, 340 nurses worked in all
inpatient care units at Alexandria Main University Hospital. The Shared Leadership and Missed Nursing
Care Survey was used for evaluation.
Results: The overall score of shared leadership was (72.62 ± 4.30), which imitates a high perception of
shared leadership among nurses; the dimension of delegation achieved the highest average mean score
(3.66 ± 0.26), followed by collaboration (3.64 ± 0.31), the vision dimension scored the lowest mean score
(3.59 ± 0.33). The elements of missed nursing care had a total score of (46.72 ± 5.69), and the dimension
of secondary care achieved the highest average mean score (3.74 ± 0.31). The reasons for missed nursing
care had a total mean score of (22.40 ± 1.59), and the dimension of labor resources achieved the highest
average mean score (3.20 ± 0.22). Male nurses, less than 30 years old, married, held a bachelor’s degree
in nursing sciences, less than five years of experience in the nursing profession, and less than five years of
experience in the current working unit had higher total scores of the shared leadership and lower total
scores of missed nursing care (P < 0.001). A negative correlation existed between shared leadership and
two dimentisons (the elements of nursing care [r ¼ 0.383], the reasons for missing nursing care
[r ¼
0.047]) (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: The study’s findings can help as a theoretical underpinning for nursing leaders to stand in
an environment that reduces the incidence of missed nursing care by encouraging teamwork, responsibility,
workload management, and empowerment among nurses.