Authentic leadership is a relatively new concept in nursing in which authentic leaders are anchored by their deep sense of self, and know where they stand on important issues, values and beliefs. While there is considerable literature available on authentic nurse leadership, little has been written regarding its effect on newly qualified nurses. Therefore, the author undertook a scoping review of the literature on authentic leadership and newly qualified nurses.

A total of 12 articles were found through database searches and included in the review. Thematic analysis of the articles identified two primary themes of ‘well-being at work’ and ‘work environment’, and two lesser themes of ‘transition from student to nurse’ and ‘retention’. The scoping review found that authentic leadership has a positive effect on newly qualified nurses and that authentic leaders can develop genuine and trusted relationships, thereby promoting a supportive work environment for newly qualified nurses.