Clinical Leadership Development Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study

This longitudinal observational mixed-methods study adopts a convergent approach to investigate the development of clinical leadership among undergraduate nursing students at the University of Genoa, Italy. The quantitative component involves the cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Italian version of the Self-Assessment Leadership Instrument (IT-SALI), alongside longitudinal assessments of clinical leadership and academic self-efficacy. The study also examines associations between clinical leadership, academic self-efficacy, motivation, and academic success, including the potential mediating role of leadership. The qualitative component involves focus groups conducted during each academic year to explore students' perceptions, experiences, and challenges related to clinical leadership. Quantitative and qualitative data are collected independently, with partial overlap between participants, and will be integrated during the interpretation phase. The findings aim to inform educational strategies and strengthen clinical leadership development throughout undergraduate nursing education.