First-line nurse managers in NSW: Perceived role competencies
Christine Duffield
Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney NSW
Judith Donoghue
Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney NSW
Dianne Pelletier
Centre for Graduate Nursing Studies, University of Technology, Sydney NSW
Anne Adams
Centre for Graduate Nursing Studies, University of Technology, Sydney NSW
PP: 056 - 063
Abstract
A survey of 412 first-line nurse managers employed in hospitals in New South Wales, Australia was undertaken to determine the competencies they believed an individual should possess to fulfil that managerial role.
Factor analyses identified both the significant functions of the role as well as areas of role conflict and confusion. Thirteen factors identified from four major scales indicated that first-line nurse managers perceived their role to be extremely comprehensive in terms of managerial knowledge and skills.
The analyses clearly indicate that competencies related to staffing and financial issues are perceived to be essential to role performance. However, the correlation coefficients (factor loadings) indicate that ambiguity exists with competencies concerning patient care, perhaps as the remnants of the charge nurse role are discarded.
References
Adams A, Donoghue J, Duffield C and Pelletier D (1990) 'A comparative analysis of the role of clinical nurse specialists and nurse unit managers'. Research Report (unpublished) University of Technology, Sydney.
Andreoli K, Musser LA (1985)a Computers in nursing care: the state of the art. Nursing Outlook 33: 16-21.
Andreoli KG and Musser LA (1985b) Trends that may affect nursing's future. Nursing & Health Care 6: 47-51.
Bellinger K and Laden J (1985) Nurse use of general-purpose microcomputer software. Nursing Outlook 33: 22-25.
Blake J and Towell D (1982) Developing effective management for the general nursing service. Journal of Advanced Nursing 7: 309-317.
Carruthers J (1983) Strengthening unit management. Nursing Times 79: 52-53.
Carson S (1981) What every head nurse should know about management. Health Services Manager 14: 11-12.
Duffield C (1989a) The role of nursing unit managers in New South Wales - a Delphi survey. Australian Health Review 12: 14-32.
Duffield C (1989b) The competencies expected of first-line nursing managers - an Australian context. Journal of Advanced Nursing 14: 997-1001.
Duffield C (1992) Future responsibility and requirements for first-line nurse managers in New South Wales. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship 24: 39-43.
Gerrish C (1990) An analysis of the educational role of the ward sister (implications for nurse educators). Nurse Education Today 10: 198-205.
Groah LK (1985) Preparing the OR budget, The nurse manager's responsibility. AORN Journal 41: 547-553.
Harris M and Bleakley M (1991) Competencies required of health service managers in the 1990s. Australian Health Review 14: 363-379.
Henry BM and Moody LE (1986) Nursing administration in small rural hospitals. Journal of Nursing Administration 16 8 38 9.
Hines N (1987) 'Management education for senior nurse managers', paper presented at the New South Wales College of Nursing Oration Conference, Standards of excellence: can we meet them?. Sept. 10 & 11 Sydney, pp.32-38.
Hodges LC (1991) Financial responsibility and budget decision-making. Journal of Nursing Administration 21: 30-33.
Lees S (1980) Developing effective institutional managers in the 1980s - part 2: some new directions. Journal of Advanced Nursing 5: 329-339.
McClure M, Poulin M, Sovie M and Wandelt M (1982) Magnet hospitals: attraction and retention of professional nurses. Kansas City: American Nurses Association.
Mollard M (1986) Health administrators: an inventory of responsibilities, learning methods and performance measures. Journal of Health Administration 1: 34-36.
Murphy AE (1983) The nurse's role in management. New Zealand Hospital 35: 11-13.
Nie N, Hull H and Jenkins JG (1986) SPSSx User's Guide 2nd edn. SPSS Inc, Chicago.
New South Wales Nurses Association (1986) Public Hospitals Nurses' (State) Award. New South Wales Nurses Association, Sydney.
NSW Health Department (1992) Structural Efficiency program: The clinical services proposals for allied health services medical services, nursing services. NSW Health Department, Sydney.
Pelfrey S (1990) Cost categories, behavior patterns, and break-even analysis. Journal of Nursing Administration 20: 10-14.
Pembrey SEM (1980) The ward sister-key to nursing. Whitefriars Press, London.
Peters TJ and Waterman RH (1982) In search of excellence. Harper & Row, New York.
Rawson G (1986) Senior health service managers: characteristics and educational needs. Australian Studies in Health Service Administration, School of Health Administration, Sydney.
Rawson GK (1988) Directors of nursing in Australia: a profile. Nursing Outlook 36: 198-202.
Report to the Australasian Nurse Registering Authorities' Conference (1990) ANRAC Nursing Competencies Assessment Project Volume 1 - the Project Report. Assessment and Evaluation Research Unit, Education Department, University of Queensland.
Russell RL (1990) From Nightingale to now, nurse education in Australia. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Sydney.
Tumulty G (1992) Head nurse role redesign. Improving satisfaction and performance. Journal of Nursing Administration 22: 41-48.
Walker G (1982) The American alternative...for directors of nursing. Nursing Focus 3: 1,10.
Weaver SH, Brynes R, Dibella M and Hughes AM (1991) First-line manager skills: perceptions and performances, Nursing Management 22: 33-39.
eContent Home
