Aydoğdu, Ana Luiza Ferreira2023-07-032023-07-032023Aydoğdu, A. L. F. (2023). Perceptions of nursing students about leadership: A qualitative study. Nurse Education Today, 128, pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.1058910260-69171532-2793https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105891https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13055/484Background: Competent nursing leadership is essential for quality care. Nursing students must be empowered to exercise leadership. Objective: To identify the perceptions of undergraduate nursing students about leadership and provide recommendations for educating future nurses to exercise leadership. Design: This is a qualitative descriptive study. Participants: The study involved 30 undergraduate nursing students from universities localized in the southeast region of Brazil. Methods: Data were collected in February 2023 through online Google Forms. Thematic content analysis was used. Results: Three themes; (1) Opinions about leadership in nursing, (2) Skills needed by a nursing leader, and (3) Suggestions for educating nursing students in leadership, and 11 sub-themes were identified. Twelve (40 %) participants reported not having taken classes on leadership yet. Twenty-one (70 %) participants stated not feeling prepared for nursing leadership. Conclusions: Undergraduate nursing students are aware of the importance of leadership in nursing care. Several skills were identified as necessary for a competent nursing leader, but efficient communication was pointed out as the most indispensable. Theoretical and practical classes, innovative teaching methods, extracurricular activities, and continuing education, were described as important measures to ensure competent nursing leadership.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessEducationLeadershipQualitative ResearchQuality of Health CareNursingStudentsArticle10.1016/j.nedt.2023.10589112817Q1WOS:0010352535000012-s2.0-85163839300PMID: 37393652Q1