en Nursing Orginal research <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="line-height:2;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b><span new="" roman="" times="">Background:</span></b></span><span style="color:#000066;"> </span><span new="" roman="" times="">The communication skills of head nurses with staff nurses are critical to supporting the job functions and effectiveness of a staff nurse, which directly impacts quality patient care. </span></span><br> <span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b><span new="" roman="" times="">Objectives:</span></b></span><span style="color:#000066;"><b> </b></span><span new="" roman="" times="">This study aimed to investigate the communication skills of head nurses and its relationship to work engagement and psychological distress of nurses.</span></span><br> <span new="" roman="" times=""><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Methods:</b></span><span style="color:#000066;"> </span>This cross-sectional study conducted on 264 nurses. Participants were included in the study using Stratified randomization. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the MayfIeid&#39;s Motivational Language Scale, the Schaufelis Work Engagement Scale, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.</span><br> <span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b><span new="" roman="" times="">Results:</span></b></span><span new="" roman="" times=""> The mean (SD) score of head nurses&#39; communication skills is [66.92 (20.69) out of 120]. Work engagement scores were [30.17 (12.04) out of 54] and psychological distress of nurses in the moderate levels [25.15 (8.77) out of 50], respectively. The relationship between head nurse&#39;s communication skills with work engagement of nurses was positive (r=0.34, p<0.001) and negative with nurses&#39; psychological distress (r= -0.26, p<0.001). There was also a significant and inverse relationship between work engagement and nurses&#39; psychological distress (r = -0.43, p< 0.001). Regression analysis showed that head nurses&#39; communication skills predicted 11.7% of nurses&#39; work engagement and 6.7% of nurses&#39; psychological distress.</span></span><br> <span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b><span new="" roman="" times="">Conclusion:</span></b></span><span new="" roman="" times=""> The communication skills of head nurses were moderate from the nurse&#39;s perspective. However, these skills are associated with high levels of nurses&#39; work engagement and less psychological distress. Therefore, it is necessary to plan to implement programs to increase head nurses&#39; communication skills and thus improve the quality of nursing care in the study population.</span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</span></span> Communication Skills, Work Engagement, Psychological Distress, Head Nurses, Nurses 3 11 http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-62-5&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Fatemeh Hatef fatemehhatef78@gmail.com 100319475328460014484 100319475328460014484 No Department of Medical-Surgical, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Seyede Fatemeh Gheiasi fatemeh.gheiasi@gmail.com 100319475328460014485 100319475328460014485 No Department of Operating Room and Anesthesiology, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Kourosh Amini korosh@zums.ac.ir 100319475328460014486 100319475328460014486 Yes Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjn, Iran