Fostering leadership competence and satisfaction in nursing undergraduates through a student-led conference: a quasi-experimental pre-post study

Abstract

Background: Numerous benefits have been reported for student-led conferences, such as increased leadership. This competence has been recognized as important for nurses so as to ensure the provision of safe and high-quality care in complex environments. However, research has yet to examine empirically the impact of student-led conferences on students' leadership behaviours. Objectives: To examine the impact that participation in a student-led conference had on the self-perceived leadership competence of nursing undergraduates. Design: Quasi-experimental single group pre-post intervention study. Setting: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. Participants: 31 students enrolled in two elective modules offered during the final year (fourth year) of a nursing degree programme. Methods: Pre-post assessment of self-perceived leadership behaviours among nursing students involved in planning and organizing a scientific conference. In addition to carrying out the tasks of organizing the Conference, all students participated as co-authors of an oral communication, thus being able to develop both cognitive and non-cognitive domains. Leadership was measured using ES_SALI scale, the Spanish version of the Self-Assessment Leadership Instrument. Result: Involvement in the student-led conference led to a statistically significant increase in self-perceived leadership competence among nursing undergraduates (p < .001). Both the total ES_SALI score and scores on each of its four dimensions (Strategic thinking, Emotional intelligence, Impact and influence, and Teamwork skills) increased significantly, and the percentage change was above 8% in all cases (p < .01). The greatest increase (10.99%) corresponded to the ‘Impact and influence’ dimension of leadership. Conclusions: The results suggest that student-led conferences are an effective way of helping nursing undergraduates to develop their leadership competence.