Nursing Leadership as core topic Healthcare System: Beatriz Esquisábel Defends Her thesis the Training of Frontline Managers

Last Friday, June 19, 2026, the School of Nursing at the University of Navarra hosted the defense of Beatriz Esquisábel Soteras’s thesis , titled “Co-producing and Evaluating a Comprehensive Transition Program for Nurses Advancing to First-Line Nurse Management Roles.” This research work , supervised by Professors Mónica Vázquez and Idoia Pardavila, addresses a critical juncture in the degree program of many nurses: the transition from internship to management .

Frontline nursing managers (supervisors) are strategic figures who serve as a link between senior management and internship . However, research Beatriz Esquisábel reveals that many assume these positions with limited formal training.

As the author explains, the change is often very rapid: "A nurse goes from being part of the team to leading it, and that involves taking on new responsibilities in areas such as management , decision-making, and conflict resolution." This transition is often accompanied by a "sense of loneliness" due to the lack of structured support within institutions.

More Than Just a Change in Roles: A New Identity
One of the study’s most notable findings is that this transition is not merely technical, but deeply emotional and relational. It involves a reconstruction of professional identity, in which the individual “goes from being just ‘another colleague’ to assuming a role with greater responsibility, authority, and visibility.” As Esquisábel points out, it’s about learning to support the team without losing that sense of closeness, which requires a new framework relating to others.

To address these needs, this thesis and evaluated a Comprehensive Transition Program using a participatory methodology and the Medical Research Council’s framework for complex interventions. The program was designed in consultation with clinical nurses, supervisors, and administrators to ensure that it met real needs. The intervention includes:

• training leadership, management communication.

• Support strategies such as mentoring and coaching.

• Peer learning and spaces for internship .

The results of the feasibility study showed high levels of satisfaction among the participants and significant improvements in their knowledge of leadership. The research that this program is a model that can strengthen organizational leadership capacity in health care systems.

Impact on Organizations and Patients
Investing in these programs benefits not only new female managers but the entire organization, promoting staff retention staff reducing burnout. Esquisábel emphasizes that having well-trained supervisors helps create work environments: “Supporting the transition of team leaders is also a way of caring for nurses, organizations, and the people they serve.”

After years of research, Beatriz highlights a teaching : "Changes in healthcare organizations cannot be imposed from the outside; rather, they must be built together with those who experience them every day."