Nurse leadership reorganization: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND

Although organizational restructuring can increase demands on nurse leaders, limited evidence exists regarding its impact on their professional roles and well-being.

PURPOSE: This scoping review examined how leadership reorganization affects nurse leaders who remain within healthcare organizations during restructuring.

METHODS

Guided by the Job Demands-Resources framework, the review synthesized six sources spanning qualitative, quantitative, conceptual, and practice-based literature.

DISCUSSION: Principal findings identified four themes: psychological and emotional strain, disruption of leadership roles and career paths, erosion of trust and psychological safety within organizational culture, and the importance of mentorship, professional development, and peer support as protective resources.

CONCLUSION

The review concludes that leadership reorganization is an underexamined workforce well-being issue with implications for leadership stability, staff morale, and patient care. Greater organizational support and more rigorous longitudinal research are needed.