High-performing Nurse Managers Reduce Falls Through Registered Nurse Collaboration

OBJECTIVE: This study examines collaborative relationships among nurses as the pathway through which nurse manager (NM) leadership influences fall rates. BACKGROUND: Research demonstrates that NMs play a critical role in fostering healthy work environments through leadership that fosters mutual trust and respect. By cultivating strong collaborative relationships among nurses within their units, NMs promote a cohesive team dynamic that directly improves patient safety. METHODS: Data from the 2023 NDNQI database were used to examine collaborative registered nurse (RN) relationships as a mediator between NM leadership and patient fall rates. RESULTS: The mediation analysis demonstrated that collaborative RN relationships significantly mediated the relationship between NM leadership and patient fall rates. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the critical role of NM leadership in cultivating a culture of collaborative RN relationships, which were shown to significantly reduce patient fall rates. Organizations should acknowledge the importance of NM leadership in shaping the culture and collaborative RN relationships within their units.