LAUSR

This study aimed at assessing the nature and effect of toxic leadership of nurse managers on the perceived job satisfaction and productivity of the nursing workforce. BACKGROUND Nursing job outcomes such as job satisfaction and nurses' productivity are influenced by various factors in the nursing practice environment including leadership. Due to rising healthcare expenses and depleting material resources, the productivity of nurses which is expected to improve the efficiency of healthcare organizations is mostly low. Managers' toxic behaviour toward nurses affects their job satisfaction and subsequently low productivity. METHOD A multi-centre, cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Validated tools were used to collect data from participants and data was analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and hierarchical linear regressions. RESULTS Registered nurses appraised the leadership behaviour of nurse managers to be toxic, with most managers exhibiting narcissistic leadership behaviour. While all components of toxic leadership behaviour of managers were associated with the perceived productivity of the nurses; intemperate leadership behaviour of the managers (β = -.301, p <.005), and job satisfaction (β = .296, p < .001) significantly predicted perceived productivity among nurses (R2 = .238, F (7, 922) = 41.088, p< .001). CONCLUSION Nurse managers' leadership behaviours were toxic. Nurses' job satisfaction and all components of managers' toxic leadership behaviour influenced productivity. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT There should be a policy developed to guide the creation and maintenance of efficient nursing leadership to enhance job satisfaction and productivity among nurses.