Fox, MaryButler, Jeffrey2023-08-232023-08-232016-09-16Fox, M. T., & Butler, J. I. (2016). Nurses’ perspectives on how operational leaders influence function-focused care for hospitalised older people. Journal of Nursing Management, 24(8), 1119–1129. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.124211365-2834https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12421https://hdl.handle.net/10315/41418This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Fox, M. T., & Butler, J. I. (2016). Nurses’ perspectives on how operational leaders influence function-focused care for hospitalised older people. Journal of Nursing Management, 24(8), 1119–1129. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12421, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12421. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.Aims. To explore nurses’ perspectives on how leaders influence function-focused care (FFC), defined as care that preserves and restores older people’s functional abilities. Background. Hospitalized older people are at risk of functional decline. Although leaders have the potential to influence FFC, few studies explored nurses’ perspectives on how leaders influence FFC. Methods. Thirteen focus groups were held with 57 acute care nurses. Semi-structured questions prompted discussion on nurses’ perspectives, needs and strategies to meet their needs. Data were thematically analyzed. Results. Three themes were identified: 1) the emphasis in hospitals is on moving older people quickly through the system, not supporting their functioning; 2) leaders are generally seen as too disconnected from practice to design system efficiency initiatives that support older people’s functioning and nurses’ provisioning of FFC; and 3) leadership strategies to better support nurses in providing FFC to older people in the context of system efficiency. Conclusions. Leaders should connect with practice to devise age-sensitive efficiency initiatives that support FFC. Nurses need support from leaders in four areas to provide FFC to older people in the current hospital context. Implications. Findings provide direction on how leaders can facilitate FFC in the current healthcare environment emphasizing system efficiency.enAcute careFunction-focused careHealth-care system efficiencyOlder peopleOperational leadersArticle