Effects of Shared Leadership and Communication Competence on Nursing Team Effectiveness in Comprehensive Nursing Service Units: Focusing on the Team Nursing System

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of shared leadership, communication skills, and team effectiveness, as perceived by nurses and nursing assistants in comprehensive nursing service units.Methods: A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and the sample included 306 nurses, nurse assistants, and caregivers working in nine hospitals with fewer than 500 beds in two South Korean cities.The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and four-step hierarchical regression analysis.Results: The factors influencing team effectiveness in the hierarchal multiple regression analysis were shared leadership (=.57, p<.001) and communication skills (=.18, p<.001).These factors explained 49% of the total variance.Conclusion: To enhance team effectiveness in compressive nursing service units, educational programs focusing on shared leadership and communication skills among nurses, nursing assistants, and caregivers must be developed.