The Impact of Transformational Leadership on the Performance of Nurses at a Portuguese Oncology Institute

The ongoing structural, procedural, and political shifts in healthcare organisations and the nursing profession impact nurses’ work dynamics and job security, which, in turn, influences their pro- fessional performance. In the field of oncology, nurses navigate a uniquely complex, challenging, and sensitive environment daily. To address these challenges, professional satisfaction, resili- ence, and commitment are vital. Therefore, the style of leadership practiced with these profes- sionals becomes particularly important. This study aims to assess how leadership influences per- formance when mediated by factors such as resilience, job satisfaction, and commitment among employees. A quantitative approach was used, with a questionnaire distributed to all nurses at an oncology institute in northern Portugal, yielding 299 valid responses. The proposed model was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings indicate that transformational leadership positively and significantly impacts resili- ence, job satisfaction, and commitment, though it does not directly impact performance. Like- wise, commitment has a positive and significant effect on performance, while resilience and job satisfaction do not have a significant impact. Transformational leadership positively affects per- formance when mediated by resilience and commitment but shows no significant effect when mediated by job satisfaction. Given the limited research on this topic in Portugal, this study not only expands theoretical understanding but also provides valuable insights for future oncology-focused research.