Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41128072›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2026

Relationships Between Nurses' Self-Leadership Practices, Professional Autonomy, Job Satisfaction and Intention to Leave: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach.

Katja Pursio, Anu Nurmeksela, Santtu Mikkonen, Tarja Kvist

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Katja PursioDepartment of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3938-9493
Anu NurmekselaDepartment of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0474-0404
Santtu MikkonenDepartment of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0595-0657
Tarja KvistDepartment of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5974-8732

Funding

The Finnish Work Environment Fund
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo explain the relationships between nurses' self-leadership and professional autonomy, job satisfaction, and intention to leave the profession.

designA descriptive cross-sectional study design.

methodsA total of 230 registered nurses responded to a survey including a Finnish version of the Dempster Practice Behaviour Scale and the Revised Self-Leadership Questionnaire in fall 2024. Structural equation modelling was used to test hypotheses.

resultsNurses assessed their self-leadership practices as moderately good. The model indicated that self-goal setting, evaluating beliefs and assumptions, and job satisfaction have positive relationships with professional autonomy, while self-reward and self-punishment have negative relationships with it. It also demonstrated that natural reward strategies have a positive relationship with job satisfaction, while self-punishment has a negative relationship with it. Nurses' professional autonomy and job satisfaction reduce their intention to leave, while evaluating beliefs and assumptions increase it.

conclusionGoal setting and using constructive mindsets develop ways of thinking that positively impact nurses' autonomy. This, in turn, leads to higher job satisfaction and lower intention to leave. Natural reward strategies that involve performing meaningful tasks surrounded by empowering people increase job satisfaction. However, not all self-leadership strategies are beneficial: self-punishment can lower professional autonomy and job satisfaction. Additionally, evaluating one's own beliefs and assumptions might increase the intention to leave due to reflective thoughts about the profession. IMPLICATIONS: Implementing professional autonomy and self-leadership practices in organisational structures enhances nurses' valuable role. Empowering leadership encourages nurses to set goals, evaluate beliefs and assumptions, and reward themselves. Moreover, nurses' self-punishment can be avoided with a healthy, open work environment. Self-leadership skills should be strengthened in nursing education to prepare nurses for work demands. REPORTING

methodThe STROBE checklist. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Indexed as

Job SatisfactionLeadershipNursing Staff, HospitalPersonnel TurnoverProfessional AutonomyAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFinlandHumansIntentionLatent Class AnalysisMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and Questionnairesintention to leavejob satisfactionprofessional autonomyregistered nurseself‐leadershipstructural equation modelling

Identifiers

PMID41128072
PMCPMC13176705

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.