Innovative leadership characteristics of Generation X and Y nurses: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract The study aimed to identify the innovative leadership qualities of Generation X and Y nurses and explore factors affecting these qualities in both generations. This cross‐sectional study was conducted with 324 teaching and research hospital nurses. Data were gathered using a Personal Information Form and the Innovative Leadership Scale from October 2021 to March 2022. Descriptive statistics were applied, followed by Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H tests, and multiple linear regression. Of the nurses, 34% were Generation X, while 66% were Generation Y. Both Generation X and Y nurses exhibited high scores of innovative leadership, with no significant difference in their overall scale scores. Generation X nurses scored higher on average in the subscales of being entrepreneur, motivating others, and being energetic. In contrast, Generation Y nurses excelled in being open to new ideas and being a changemaker. The factors influencing nurses' innovative leadership qualities included their educational level, position, work clinic, clinical experience, shift type, and perception of themselves as leaders. These results suggest that nurses from both generations manifest differing innovative leadership qualities.