Date of Award
Spring 1983
Document Type
Dissertation - Restricted
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Education
First Advisor
Martin, Thomas
Second Advisor
Thorm, Carl G.
Third Advisor
Ivanoff, John
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the relationship between management education of baccalaureate-prepared nurse managers and their managerial performance. It was hypothesized that nurse managers who completed a course in basic management principles and functions would perceive themselves as no more proficient in management that those who did not complete the course as measured by a managerial performance appraisal instrument. It was further hypothesized that supervisors of those who completed the course would perceive these nurse managers as no more proficient in management than those who did not complete the course. A four-group experimental design was utilized with 91 nurse manager participants and their supervisors from hospitals in Wisconsin, Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. Although the performance appraisal mean scores of those who completed the course were greater than the mean scores of those who did not complete the course, the difference between the mean scores was not statistically significant. In addition, although the mean scores of the supervisors of course participants were greater than those of supervisors of nurse managers who did not complete the course, the difference was not statistically significant. The hypotheses were tenable. The results of this study indicate that in this instance no significant difference in managerial performance between nurse managers who completed a course in basic management principles and functions and nurse managers not completing the course was perceived by the nurse managers themselves and their supervisors. However, the format of the course (six audio-taped sessions) and the question of whether lecture instruction alone is adequate to influence managerial performance may qualify the results of the study. As a result of this study, additional research on the relationship of management education of nurses and their managerial performance is recommended. Such research could include use of other course formats and determination of the relationship between lecture and practical coursework in management and managerial performance.