Clinical leadership in empowering nurses in the hospital environment: Concept analysis

Abstract

Objective: To elaborate and present an integrated conceptual definition of clinical leadership in nurses, empowering, based on the results of a systematic literature review. Methodology: This study used Walker and Avant’s approach, which consisted of eight systematic steps. The literature search was conducted using electronic data from PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Sage Journal, ClinicalKey Nursing, and Proquest published from 2021 until 2025. Results: An integrated conceptual framework identified three key antecedents (structural empowerment, supportive leadership climate, clinical leadership capabilities) and four core attributes, including transformational influence, enabling empowerment, relational and collaborative competencies, and ethical and professional integrity. The consequences include nurse well-being and growth, clinical excellence and safety, innovation and service improvement. Conclusion: This conceptual analysis resulted in an integrated clinical leadership framework, conceptualizing clinical leadership in nurse empowerment as a system-level construct with interdependent components. These findings provide a strong theoretical foundation for the development of valid measurement instruments and the design of targeted interventions in clinical settings.