Date of Award
Spring 1993
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Brown, Ardene J.
Second Advisor
Malin, Shelly
Third Advisor
Sliefert, Maxine
Abstract
A descriptive research design using survey methodology was used to investigate the administrative skills that first-line nurse managers in small community hospitals believed were necessary for success in the management role. An 89% response rate provided a sample of 73 first-line nurse managers from Wisconsin hospitals with an average daily census of 40 - 80 patients. An investigator-designed, 19 item questionnaire using a Likert-type scale was used to obtain the perceptions of skills that first-line nurse managers believed necessary for their success. An additional 11 questions elicited demographic information about the respondents. Descriptive analysis of the responses indicated that all skills were believed to be either very necessary or necessary by the majority of the respondents. Ranking of skills from very necessary to very unnecessary was accomplished using mean scores on the item. Mean scores were computed, with the highest possible score being 5 and the lowest possible score being 1. Mean scores ranged from 4.99 to 3.93. Communication (mean=4.99) was selected by 72 (98.6%) first-line nurse managers as very necessary for success in the management role. In contrast, direct patient care (mean=3.93) was selected by 23 (32%) as being very necessary. Problem-solving/decision-making, team building, budgeting/accounting, delegation, and development of standards of care were skills all first-line nurse managers believed were either very necessary or necessary for success in their management role. Spearman's rho was used to compute correlations between skills and three demographic variables: organizational structure, shared governance environment, and type of nursing care delivery model. Significant low correlations were identified between decentralization and productivity, motivation, budgeting/accounting, group process; absence of shared governance and development of standards of care; and primary care and productivity (p < .05). Interviewing/hiring had a significant moderate positive correlation with a decentralized organizational structure (p < .01). The findings of this study indicated the majority of first-line nurse managers believed skills encompassing patient care management, human resource management, and conceptual management were either very necessary or necessary for success in their first-line management role. The results have provided information that will assist in the initial and ongoing development of first-line nurse managers.
Recommended Citation
Martin, Jane Kathryn, "Identification of Administrative Skills Necessary for Success in the First-Line Nurse Manager Role" (1993). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3722.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3722