Leadership in Nursing Management among Riau Malay Ethnicity and Nurses Educational Levels in the Hospital Wards

Background: The head nurse plays a central role in coordinating ward activities and ensuring quality inpatient care. Leadership culture in nursing is shaped by individual and sociocultural factors, including educational background and ethnicity, which may influence leadership style and effectiveness. Understanding these influences is important for improving nursing management and patient outcomes. Objectives: This study examines the relationship between head nurses’ ethnicity, characteristics and educational background with perceived leadership effectiveness as evaluated by staff nurses in hospital wards. Methods: This study employed a quantitative cross sectional descriptive correlational design involving 240 nurses and 45 head nurses at a referral hospital in Riau Province, Indonesia. Head nurses provided demographic data, while staff nurses evaluated leadership effectiveness using standardized leadership questionnaires. Results: Over half (58%) of head nurses were of Riau Malay ethnicity, and most (84%) of the nursing staff expressed satisfaction with their leadership.