Meaning, dimensions, and implications of spiritual leadership for service managers in nursing services: An integrative literatur review
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33024/min.v9i7.3985
Nursing Services Nursing Service Managers Spiritual Leadership
Abstract
Background: Spiritual leadership integrates spiritual, moral, and humanitarian values to promote healthcare workers’ well-being and improve nursing service quality.
Purpose: This study aimed to synthesize scientific evidence on the meaning, dimensions, and implications of spiritual leadership in nursing services.
Method: An integrative literature review was conducted using the framework developed by Whittemore and Knafl, comprising problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, and data analysis and synthesis. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using the keywords “spiritual leadership,” “nursing,” “nurse manager,” and “healthcare,” guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework. Articles published between 2020 and 2026 were selected according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: Of the 15,274 records initially identified, 25 articles met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed using thematic synthesis. Three major themes emerged: (1) the meaning of spiritual leadership in nursing services, characterized by meaningful work, spiritual values, and human relationships; (2) its core dimensions, including vision, hope/faith, and altruistic love, supported by spiritual, emotional, and social competencies; and (3) its implications for nursing service managers, including improved caring behaviors, work engagement, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, spiritual well-being, and nursing care quality.
Conclusion: Spiritual leadership may foster meaningful work environments, positive organizational cultures, and high-quality nursing services. Its implementation may strengthen nursing service managers’ capacity to lead healthcare services in a humanistic and sustainable manner.
Downloads
References
Abukhalifa, A. M. S., & Aboramadan, M. (2026). Transformational leadership and nurses’ adaptive performance: The roles of psychological capital and workplace spirituality. Journal of Nursing Management, 2026(1), Article 8309473. https://doi.org/10.1155/jonm/8309473
Ahmed, R. M., Fakhry, S. F., & Elsayed, S. M. (2024). Spiritual leadership and its relation to job satisfaction among head nurses. Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 15(4), 214–223. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejhc.2024.386734
Akar, N., Yoruk, T., & Almaz, Y. (2024). Components of Workplace Spirituality for the Nursing Profession : A Comprehensive Analysis Beyond Managerial Control and Consent. ESOGÜ İİBF Dergisi, 19, 803–819. https://doi.org/10.17153/oguiibf.1437006
Baguna, A. E., Pandeirot, C. Y. M., Juniarta, & Barus, N. S. (2024). Correlation of nurses’ perception of spirituality and spiritual care with spiritual care practices in Indonesia: A cross-sectional survey. Belitung Nursing Journal, 10(5), 593–600. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.3467
Candrawati, S. A. K., Sriani, N. K. A., Subhaktiyasa, P. G., Andini, N. K. S., Putri, N. L. N. D. D., Citrawati, N. K., & Andriany, M. (2024). Spiritual leadership enhances caring behaviour: The mediating role of calling. Nurse Media Journal of Nursing, 14(2), 185–198. https://doi.org/10.14710/nmjn.v14i2.58964
Fezih, F. A., Na, T., Dwi, U., Wibowo, A., & Primala, D. A. (2024). The Role of Workplace Spirituality and Organizational Climate Towards Resilience at Work on Nurses. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research (IJSSHR), 07(05), 2720–2728. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v7-i05-23
Fry, L. W. (2003). Toward a theory of spiritual leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 14(6), 693–727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2003.09.001
Habibpour, Z., Sodeify, R., Mostafazadeh, A., & Seyed-Mohammadi, N. (2025). The association between workplace spirituality with nurses’ general health and quality of work life: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, 12(2), Article e158211. https://doi.org/10.5812/jnms-158211
Hamzaa, H. G., Atta, M. H. R., Taha, H. M. A., Sayed, M. A., Ahmed, A. K., Othman, A. A., & Wahba, N. M. I. (2025). Exploring the role of spiritual leadership among nurse colleagues: An associative analysis of its impact on passion and altruism. BMC Nursing, 24(1), Article 142. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02750-5
Khomsin, H. S., & Supriharyanti, E. (2024). Systematic literature review: Spiritual leadership dalam konteks manajemen. TRANSEKONOMIKA: Akuntansi, Bisnis dan Keuangan, 4(6), 1166–1179. https://doi.org/10.55047/transekonomika.v4i6.731
Kolomboy, F., Rizkaningsih, R., & Syamsu, A. F. (2023). Exploring spiritual-based transformational leadership indicators in Palu City Hospital: A qualitative study. Poltekita: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 17(3), 521–528. https://doi.org/10.33860/jik.v17i3.2299
Lesomar, T., & Bunga, A. L. (2024). Gaya kepemimpinan spiritualitas kepala ruang terhadap kinerja perawat pelaksana: Literature review. Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia (MPPKI), 7(5), 1089–1093. https://doi.org/10.56338/mppki.v7i5.4988
Masoud, A., Fernandez, R., & Green, H. (2022). Spiritual intelligence and professional nursing practice : A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 4(July), 100096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2022.100096
Nishanthi, B., Hariharan, C., Babu, M., Srinivasan, S., & Anandhabalaji, V. (2025). Exploring workplace spirituality and its impact on organizational effectiveness: A bibliometric review and prospective research directions. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12(March), 101685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101685
Ouyang, Y., Shi, L., Wan, B., Cheng, X., Han, P., & Ou, L. (2026). How does spiritual leadership promote nurse taking charge? The roles of spiritual well-being and pay-for-performance perception. BMC Nursing, 25, Article 226. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-026-04413-5
Paida, P. A., & Hamdoni, K. P. (2024). Leadership traits of nurse managers and nurse staff commitment in the Philippines hospitals. Indonesian Journal of Health Administration, 12(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.20473/jaki.v12i1.2024.49-61
Piwowar-Sulej, K., & Iqbal, Q. (2024). A systematic literature review on spiritual leadership: Antecedents, mechanism, moderators and outcomes. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 37(8), 18–35. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-11-2023-0483
Rauf, S., & Hidayah, N. (2025). Kepemimpinan dan manajemen keperawatan: Teori dan praktik dalam pelayanan kesehatan. YPMIC (Yayasan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Indonesia Cerdas).
Ribeiro, M., Caldeira, S., Nunes, E., & Vieira, M. (2021). A commentary on spiritual leadership and workplace spirituality in nursing management. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(3), 602–605. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13196
Samsualam, S., & Hidayah, N. (2022). Asuhan keperawatan spiritual berdasarkan perspektif Islam: Teori dan praktik (Cetakan ke-2). Yayasan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Indonesia Cerdas.
Samul, J. (2020). Spiritual leadership: Meaning in the sustainable workplace. Sustainability, 12(1), Article 267. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010267
Sesioria, D., Kiswarjanu, A., & Rosa, E. M. (2022). Spiritual Leadership in Healthcare: A Bibliometric Analysis. Jurnal Aisyah: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 7(2), 355–362. https://doi.org/10.30604/jika.v7i2.914
Sitorus, B. D., Laoli, D., Juniarta, J., & Situmorang, K. (2025). Nurses’ spiritual well-being and spiritual care competence: A cross-sectional study in Indonesia. Nursing Current: Jurnal Keperawatan, 13(2), 178–186. https://doi.org/10.19166/nc.v13i2.10122
Sriani, N. K. A., Subhaktiyasa, P. G., & Dharma, I. D. G. C. (2024). Spiritual leadership and caring behavior: Insights from Indonesian nursing practice. Bali Medika Jurnal, 11(1), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.36376/bmj.v11i1.414
Sritoomma, N., & Wongkhomthong, J. (2021). The components of strategic leadership competencies of chief nurse executives in private hospitals in Thailand. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(7), 2047–2055. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13361
Suprapta, M. A., Agung, A. A. G., Dantes, K. R., & Ratnaya, G. (2024). The influence of spiritual leadership on work discipline has an impact on the nurse performance of hospital in Denpasar Bali. International Journal of Religion, 5(4), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.61707/g2qcws88
Ulrich, T. H. (2020). Spiritual leadership: A guide to focus, awareness, and mindfulness. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45432-6
Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: Updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546–553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x
Wu, W. L., & Lee, Y. C. (2020). How spiritual leadership boosts nurses' work engagement: The mediating roles of calling and psychological capital. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), Article 6364. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176364
Wu, X., Hayter, M., Lee, A. J., Yuan, Y., Li, S., Bi, Y., Zhang, L., Cao, C., Gong, W., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Positive spiritual climate supports transformational leadership as means to reduce nursing burnout and intent to leave. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(4), 804–813. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12994
Zeid, M. A. G. A., El-Ashry, A. M., Kamal, M. A., & Khedr, M. A. (2022). Spiritual leadership among nursing educators : a correlational cross ‑ sectional study with psychological capital. BMC Nursing, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01163-y
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Muh Aksa, Nur Hidayah, Syamsiah Rauf, Arief Bangsawan Aldo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
