Effects of Leadership on the Work Performance of Nurses in a Private Hospital in Laguna: A Basis for Leadership Guidelines for Better Work Performance

Leadership is essential in nursing and healthcare management since it influences team dynamics, job satisfaction, and patient outcomes. Effective leadership can foster a collaborative environment, enhance work performance, and mitigate challenges such as staff burnout and high workloads. This study examines the impact of different leadership styles on the work performance of nurses at The Medical City South Luzon and aims to develop leadership guidelines to enhance nurse performance and workplace engagement. A correlational research design was mployyed to analyze the relationship between leadership styles and nurse performance. Data were collected from 64 staff nurses through a structured survey, measuring perceptions of leadership styles and work performance. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation, t-tests, and ANOVA, were used to determine significant differences and relationships between leadership styles and work performance indicators. Findings revealed that Laissez-faire leadership received the highest perception rating (M = 3.29, SD = 0.44), followed by Democratic leadership (M = 3.09, SD = 0.54), indicating a preference for flexible and participatory leadership styles. Work performance analysis showed that task performance (M = 3.67, SD = 0.57) was rated higher than contextual performance (M = 2.80, SD = 0.45), suggesting that nurses excel in their core job responsibilities but have room for improvement in teamwork and workplace engagement. Among demographic factors, sex was the only significant variable influencing work performance (p = 0.034, F = 4.71), while age, marital status, education, and experience showed no significant differences. A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.4866, p