Abstract
AIMS: To explore band 5 staff nurses' perceptions of leadership and leadership development and derive insights and recommendations to inform future practice. BACKGROUND: Band 5 staff nurses are increasingly expected to develop leadership skills but are not always well supported in this. METHOD: A qualitative methodology situated within a constructivist paradigm explored the shared meanings and understandings of band 5 nurses' leadership development within the context of current organisation, policy, and culture. RESULTS: Three principal themes representing band 5 nurses' perceptions of leadership were identified: defining leadership, opportunities to lead, promoting leadership development. CONCLUSION: Band 5 nurses' leadership development is highly variable in frequency and quality. Key barriers and facilitators to development are discussed, including the wide provision of formally validated and bespoke leadership programmes that combine practice-based, informal training. Implications for Practice. Nurse leadership development at all levels remains integral to high-quality and safe health care. High rates of senior staff attrition and recent guidelines in England reinforce the need for band 5 nurse leadership. The multiple challenges impeding this are discussed, alongside ways of overcoming them.