Leadership Styles and Student Satisfaction amongst Undergraduate Nursing Students in University of Medical Sciences, Akure, Ondo State

Abstract

Background: The issue of leadership style is considered a major and basic concern for all organizations and institutions in various countries. The demands of the nursing profession require effective leadership practices that support and empower nursing students throughout their educational journey; while leadership in nursing education has been recognized as important, there is a gap in research that specifically focuses on the influence of leadership styles on student satisfaction. Aim: This study sought to assess the influence of the leadership styles on student satisfaction and to assess the levels of student satisfaction with the leadership styles. Methodology: A descriptive design was adopted to examine undergraduate nursing students of University of Medical Sciences, Akure, Ondo state satisfaction on leaderships styles. A validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the data and it was presented in tables and charts. Results: The results revealed that the mean age of respondents is 22.75 ± 4.67; 37.2% were in 500l, 400l (36.4%), 300l (26.4%) respectively with more than half of them being female. The overall level of mean score ± SD of student’s satisfaction on leadership styles is 18.27±6.92; majority of the respondents expressed low satisfaction. There are different leadership styles experienced by undergraduate such as autocratic, transitional and democratic styles. Inference drawn from the hypotheses revealed that there is no statistical significant between leadership styles and student satisfaction among undergraduate nursing students in UNIMED (p value 0.243). Also, there is no statistical relationship between respondent level and student satisfaction. Therefore, institutions should use the leadership style that enhances the capacities and abilities of the people also there should be students involvement during decision making this gives them the opportunity to express personal points of view and Increases a sense of mutual esteem and teamwork within the group.