This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes of nurse managers regarding transformational leadership (TL) style in Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it aims to describe the knowledge of top nurse managers about TL and explore their attitudes towards its four components: idealised influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualised consideration. Employing an explorative qualitative approach, the study involved in-depth interviews with 12 nurse managers selected through purposive sampling from primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities. The interview guide was adapted from the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), featuring open-ended questions to elicit detailed responses. Data were analysed using thematic analysis with Atlas Ti 9 software. Findings revealed that while participants demonstrated a basic understanding of leadership, their knowledge of TL style was superficial, often conflating it with democratic leadership. Their attitudes towards the TL components were similarly limited. For example, participants emphasised teamwork and delegation under idealised influence but lacked deeper application of ethical and visionary attributes. Inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualised consideration were inconsistently implemented, with respondents displaying only partial understanding of these concepts. The study highlights the need for comprehensive training to enhance nurse managers’ understanding and practice of TL style. Such training could improve nursing leadership, foster positive organisational culture, and ensure quality patient care. Recommendations include the development and implementation of TL-focused training programmes for nurse managers across health institutions in Ondo State.
Keywords: Attitudes, Knowledge, nurse managers, transformational leadership style
