Exploring the career pathways of four males nurses to the deanship position in higher education: A narrative inquiry

Background and purpose: The career path to deanship for male nurses is still mostly unexplored. Male deans leading nursing schools is a new trend in the U.S.Methods: A narrative inquiry using semi-structured interviews with four male deans of schools of nursing in the Southwestern U.S. was the methodology used for this study.Results: The following themes emerged from the data: 1) service to others; 2) traditional career trajectories; 3) it is all about people; and 4) evolving leadership styles. Importance: The participants’ narratives provided first-hand accounts of how these men transitioned from the bedside to the boardroom in higher education. Their experiences could shed light on gender-related issues in nursing education and its leadership. Thus, this study can serve as a career compass for male nurses aspiring to academic leadership positions, inspire more men to join the profession, and aid educational institutions develop strategies for a more gender-balanced workforce.Conclusions: This study proved that men are assets to the nursing profession in both practice and academia. Recruiting more men is part of a solution to the dean and faculty shortage. Preparing the next generation of nursing deans needs a concerted effort to enhance the diversity of the deans and the faculty to reflect the student population today.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Leadership Practices Inventory

There is little evidence of psychometric properties of the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) when used with Taiwan's nursing faculty. The purpose of this study was to examine psychometric properties of the Chinese LPI and provide a culturally appropriate instrument for use in Taiwan's nursing. Thirteen bachelor and nine associate degree nursing programs were eligible for participation. The Chinese LPI was used to gather nursing faculty's perceptions of leadership behaviors of nursing deans and directors. A total of 369 questionnaires were returned. Psychometric examinations used content validity, internal consistency reliability, item analysis, and construct and concurrent validities. Cronbach's alpha of the Chinese LPI total scale was .96. Three factors were extracted that explained 59.5 % of the variance. Concurrent validity was supported by the Chinese Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X). Findings for the psychometric properties and cultural appropriateness of the Chinese LPI supported its potential as an instrument for measuring nursing leadership in Taiwan.