Date of Conferral
4-22-2026
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Janie Hall
Abstract
Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) face ongoing communication barriers that heighten medical errors and health disparities because nurse leaders in acute care settings lack empirically informed guidance on leadership practices that effectively implement language services. Grounded in transformational leadership (TL) theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore how nurse leaders perceive, experience, and enact strategies to address the language access needs of LEP patients. The participants were six nurse leaders from across the Midwest region, who successfully led nursing teams to improve communication with LEP patients. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, government proactive disclosures, and policy documents. Using Braun and Clarke’s six-stage thematic analysis model, three themes emerged: communication styles and strategies, resource strategies, and staff empowerment strategies. A key recommendation for nurse leaders is to ensure effective language access through adequate resources and leadership approaches characterized by inclusivity, cultural humility, and system-level accountability. The implications for positive social change include improved patient safety, enhanced trust, and reduced disparities in care delivery for LEP populations through equitable communication practices implemented by nurse leaders in acute care settings.
Recommended Citation
Cruz, Joel, "Strategies Case Managers Use to Communicate With Limited English Proficient Patients" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 19844.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/19844
