Using a correlational, cross-sectional study design with self-administered questionnaires, this study explored the extent to which leadership practices of deans and department heads influence faculty job satisfaction in baccalaureate degree nursing programs. Using a simple random sampling technique, the study survey was sent to 400 faculty members. 300 faculty members were chosen out of 400 and106 faculty members who returned the questionnaires and employed full time in baccalaureate degree nursing programs in the southeastern part of the United States were selected for the study. The study participants completed the Weiss, Dawis, England, and Lofquist's (1977) Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and Kouzes and Posner's (2003) Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) survey. The study illuminated the relationship between leadership practices of university deans and department heads and faculty job satisfaction using a descriptive, correlational cross-sectional study design with self administered questionnaires. The findings indicated that nursing deans and department heads who implemented the leadership practices whereby their faculty felt encouraged and enabled to act more autonomously produced higher levels of job satisfaction
