Exploring Leadership Role Practices and Their Influence On The Professional Development Of Nurses In A Private Tertiary Hospital In Marikina City

This qualitative phenomenological study explored leadership role practices and their influence on nurses' professional development in a private tertiary hospital in Marikina City. Nine participants, consisting of five nurse leaders and four staff nurses, were selected through purposive sampling. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis, with ethical clearance and informed consent secured prior to data collection. Five major themes emerged: leadership roles and practices; influence on knowledge, skills, and professional behavior; professional growth and workplace outcomes; challenges and improvement strategies; and professional development needs and recommendations. The findings showed that nursing leadership is an organizational, developmental, operational, and relational process that strengthens clinical competence, critical thinking, professional values, confidence, career advancement, and the overall work environment. Leadership practices such as mentoring, coaching, supervision, and delegation supported continuous learning and professional growth; however, workload pressures, role strain, and interpersonal barriers in the clinical setting affected their effectiveness. The study is limited by its focus on a single private tertiary hospital and a small purposively selected group of participants, which may restrict the transferability of the findings. Future studies should include larger samples and diverse healthcare settings. The findings underscore the need for healthcare institutions to invest in continuous leadership training, structured mentorship, and supportive organizational systems. This study contributes context-specific evidence on how nursing leadership practices shape professional development and workplace outcomes among nurses in the Philippine private hospital setting and informs sustainable nursing workforce development initiatives.