Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Nurses are a key component of the health care system and have the ability to provide innovative solutions to improve quality and safety for patients, while improving workplace conditions, and increasing recruitment and retention of nurses. Encouraging innovation behaviors among nurses is essential to improving health care. Innovation behaviors are defined as behavior from an employee toward developing new products, developing new markets, or improving business routines in their employing organization. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the relationships among individual and organizational characteristics and employee innovation behavior among nurses. The proposed model, The Framework for Study of Innovation Behaviors among Nurses, was developed based on the work by Kuratko, Hornsby, and Montagno and is specific to nursing innovation behaviors.

Syftet med studien var tudelat. Syftet var att undersöka hur socialsekreterare upplever situationer där socialtjänsten konstaterat att en familj är i behov av insatser, men både samtycke från vårdnadshavare och skäl att tillämpa 2 § LVU saknas. Syftet var också att undersöka hur socialsekreterare arbetar för att motivera vårdnadshavare i dessa situationer. För att besvara vårt syfte använde vi oss av en kvalitativ metod med intervjuer. Vi intervjuade sex socialsekreterare med erfarenhet av arbete med barnavårdsutredningar. Det insamlade materialet analyserades med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys och tolkades med Lipskys teori om gräsrotsbyråkrater samt Revstedts teori om motivationsrelationen. Resultatet visade att socialsekreterare upplever att deras handlingsutrymme är begränsat i glappet mellan frivillighet och tvång. Resultatet visade även att motivationsarbetet med vårdnadshavare är avgörande för att färre barn ska hamna i glappet samt att de önskar ett mellantvång som gör det möjligt för dem att under längre tid träffa och motivera vårdnadshavare att ta emot insats. Av studien framkom det även att socialsekreterarna anser att relationsskapande är en viktig del i motivationsarbetet. / The purpose of the studies was two-sided. The aim was to investigate how social workers experience situations where social services have determined that a family is in need of interventions, while there is no reason to apply 2 § LVU. The aim was also to investigate how social workers work to motivate guardians in these situations. To answer our purpose we used a qualitative method with the help of interviews. We interviewed six social workers with experience of working with child welfare investigations. The collected material was analyzed with a qualitative content analysis and interpreted with Lipsky's theory of street level bureaucrats and Revstedt's theory of the motivational relationship. The results showed that social workers feel that their room of action is limited in the gap between voluntary and constraint. The results showed that social workers feel that their room of action is limited in the gap between voluntary and constraint. The results also showed that the motivational work with guardians is crucial for fewer children to end up in the gap and that they wish for an intermediate constraint that makes it possible for a longer period of time and motivate guardians to receive support. The study also revealed that the social workers believe that relationship building is an important part of the motivational work.

Sammanfattning  Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka hur socialsekreterare inom ekonomiskt bistånd arbetar med nyanlända familjer, samt hur socialsekreterare upplever sina förutsättningar att kunna stödja klienterna inom den organisation som de verkar inom. Studien genomfördes med kvalitativ metod där fem socialsekreterare inom ekonomiskt bistånd intervjuades, där samtliga hade erfarenhet av att jobba med nyanlända familjer. Insamlad empiri bearbetades och analyserades utifrån kvalitativ innehållsanalys med stöd av teorierna handlingsutrymme och socialt stöd. Resultatet från studien visade att socialsekreterares arbete med nyanlända familjer bestod av att bevilja ekonomiskt bistånd samt tillhandahålla samhällsinformation till klienten. Samverkan upplevdes av socialsekreterarna fungera mellan de olika enheterna inom den egna organisationen såväl som med andra aktörer. Däremot upplevdes samverkan med Arbetsförmedlingen som bristfällig, särskilt avseende nyanlända klienter med mer omfattande stödbehov. Socialsekreterarna önskade att samhället i stort behöver arbeta med det sociala perspektivet genom att forma insatser där fokus inte enbart ligger på att arbeta mot självförsörjning, utan att arbeta mot att stödja och möta klientens behov. Uppsatsens slutsats var att socialsekreterare på ekonomiskt bistånd upplever att nyanlända familjer är en mångfacetterad klientgrupp med olika förutsättningar och behov. Socialsekreterare på ekonomiskt bistånd utgör en viktig funktion för att tillhandahålla nyanlända familjer försörjningsstöd och samhällsinformation. Trots omfattande lagstiftning och riktlinjer som måste följas, ger socialtjänstlagen socialsekreterare handlingsutrymme att fatta individuella beslut utifrån klientens situation. / Abstract  The purpose of this study was to investigate how social workers in financial assistance work with newly arrived families, as well as how social workers perceive their conditions to be able to support the clients within their organization. The study was carried out using a qualitative method by interviewing five social workers in financial assistance, all of whom had experience of working with newly arrived families. Empirical data was processed and analyzed applying qualitative content analysis coupled with the theories discretion and social support. The results showed that social workers provide financial assistance and social information to the clients. Cooperation was perceived by the social workers to function between the various units within their own organization as well as with other actors. Although, cooperation with the Swedish Public Employment Service was perceived as lacking, especially regarding newly arrived clients with more extensive support needs. The social workers wished that society at large need to consider the social perspective by shaping efforts where the focus is not solely on working towards self-sufficiency, but working towards supporting and meeting the client's needs. The conclusion of this study was that social workers perceive newly arrived families as a multifaceted clientele, with different capacities and needs. Social workers within financial assistance form an important function in providing newly arrived families with livelihood support and community information. Despite extensive legislation and guidelines that must be followed, the Social Service Act provides social workers discretion to make individual decisions based on the client's situation.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a social problem that affects both the person living with IPV, but also has its consequences in society. One group that has an additional vulnerability to being exposed to IPV is women with an intellectual disability. There are not many studies that have been conducted in this field, especially in Sweden, and as a result there is not much information on this field. The study therefore aimed to explore the different needs of women who have an intellectual disability and are experiencing IPV and explore how social workers find themselves in their role being able to meet these needs. We conducted a qualitative study, where we held interviews with social workers who work with IPV in municipalities in the southern part of Sweden. We chose to analyze the data by using Lipsky's theory Street level bureaucracy and choose to focus on the concept of discretion. The result showed needs such as protection, economic support, information and counseling support, and also a need for visibility. The results also presented areas in which the social workers felt were both obstacles and opportunities to meet these needs were communication, adaptation, the role of organizations, and collaboration. One conclusion that could be made was that social workers felt that they within their discretion were able to meet the needs, but that it does not always fall within the scope of their delegation and may involve making other contacts and collaborating to meet the needs.

The purpose of our thesis is to investigate through a survey how specialization affects the perceived scope for discretion of the social worker. The study will also examine how the social worker can customize outpatient care targeted at children and young people. The study's empirics were collected through a web survey that was sent out via email to social workers who worked with children and young people in IFO's outpatient care.  The study examines how social workers' discretion is affected by the organization of social services such as the division of clients within the organization and the way in which they interact. The results indicate that guidelines, norms, and laws affect the social worker's discretion in a way that reduces client-customization. In addition, the study examines how the social worker can client-customize their efforts and which factors influence the degree of client-tailoring. The study shows that previous experience and education affect the scope for discretion in a way that increases client-customization. The empirical study is analysed using Lipsky's theory of street level bureaucrats.

The aim of this study has been to describe and understand how school counselors and school social worker experience and perceive their discretion related to the work with problematic school absenteeism in elementary school. My study is based on six qualitative interviews where the professional roles each made half of the total number, which has been analyzed using qualitative content analysis. I wanted to describe and understand the discretion of school counselors and school social worker based on their role and function as that are not sufficently defined and specified, this associated with work on problematic school absenteeism. The conclusions of this study are that some of them felt limited regarding confidentiality, while some were positive about laws and guidelines. Also, that other actors within school or BUP, their working conditions and resources influenced the school counselors´and school social workers own work performance. The managers gave them freedom to shape their professional role within the organization´s framework. The possibility of resistance was also expressed. Also, that there is bigger experience of obscurity than clarity regarding the job description, which can be based on cooperation and the opportunity to take place. Collaboration and cross-border work as well affected the discretion of the professional role. School councelors and school social worker also have different opportunities in their preventive practical work to meet and manage absenteeism.

I den här studien beskrivs hur skolkuratorer arbetar förebyggande mot kränkande behandling för att främja elevers välmående och utveckling. Studien syftar till att undersöka skolkuratorers arbetssätt gällande förebyggande arbete mot kränkande behandling på grundskolan. Frågeställningar för att uppfylla studiens syfte är: Hur arbetar skolkuratorer förebyggande mot kränkande behandling? Hur är handlingsutrymmet i det förebyggande arbetet mot kränkande behandling utifrån skolkuratorers perspektiv? Hur ser samverkan ut med andra professioner i det förebyggande arbetet mot kränkande behandling? För att uppfylla studiens syfte och behandla frågeställningarna valdes en kvalitativ metod i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Datainsamlingen transkriberades och analyserades genom tematisk analys och jämfördes sedan med relevant tidigare forskning inom det aktuella ämnet. Resultatet som presenteras innebär att det förebyggande arbetet mot kränkande behandling utförs på olika sätt, på olika nivåer. Andra betydande delar i studien påvisar handlingsutrymmet och samverkan med andra yrkesprofessioner på skolan. Resultatet har diskuterats och analyserats med en grund i den systemteoretiska utvecklingsekologiska teorin, vilket har varit studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt. Ytterligare fynd, som studien redovisar, är: förebyggande arbetssätt i form av vuxennärvaro, värdegrundsarbete och förebyggande i kombination med åtgärdande arbete. / This study describes how school counsellors work to prevent bullying in order to ensure pupils' well-being and development. The aim of the study is to investigate school counsellors' approaches to preventing bullying in primary schools.  The questions posed to fulfill the purpose of the study are: How do school counsellors work to prevent bullying? From the perspective of school counsellors, how is the professional discretion in the prevention of bullying? How is the collaboration with other professions present in the prevention work preventing bullying? In order to fulfill the study's purpose and answer the research questions, a qualitative method was chosen using semi-structured interviews. The data collection was transcribed and analyzed through thematic analysis and then compared with relevant previous research on the topic of bullying. The result of the study shows that the prevention work against bullying is carried out in different ways at different levels. Other significant elements of the study are the scope of action and the interaction with other groups of professionals present and active at a school. The presented result is discussed and analyzed with the basis in the system theoretical developmental ecological theory, which has been the theoretical starting point of the study. Other findings in the study are: preventive approaches in the form of adult presence, value-based work and prevention combined with remedial work.

The purpose of this study is to explore how social workers in financial assistance describe their work situation. The aim is also to investigate how social workers in financial assistance describe their discretion and whether there is a relationship between their work situation and discretion. A qualitative method in the form of six semi-structured interviews has been used to obtain relevant empirical data for our study. We interviewed six social workers in the field of financial assistance with different levels of experience. The social workers who participated work either in the financial assistance intake unit or ongoing financial assistance for clients of varying ages who apply for continued financial assistance each month. Our study shows that social workers in financial assistance have different definitions of discretion. The first definition of discretion implies that social workers' discretion is created and adjusted by various factors such as laws, management and supervisors, personal preferences and clients. The second definition describes discretion as a right that comes with working as a social worker on financial assistance and implies that discretion is explored and tested in the work by the social worker himself. Our study also shows that the work situation of a social worker in financial assistance and their discretion influence each other. Greater discretion has a positive effect on the social worker's work situation and limited discretion has the opposite effect. A heavy workload and lack of time, while management and supervisors try to impose constraints on the social worker, have a negative impact on a social worker's discretion. This in turn leads to stress for social workers in financial assistance. The results of the study also show that factors such as experience and room for interpretation of the law increase the discretion, which contributes to a more positive attitude towards social workers’ work situation.

Syftet med studien har varit att undersöka socialsekreterares upplevelser av att arbeta inom den sociala barnavården vilken förutsätter föräldrars frivillighet för att barn ska få sina rättigheter gällande stöd, skydd och delaktighet tillgodosedda. Studien har i synnerhet fokuserats kring att undersöka huruvida socialsekreterare upplever att föräldrars lagstadgade rätt till frivillighet begränsar barns lagstadgade rätt till delaktighet och skydd. Kvalitativ forskningsmetod valdes för att besvara frågeställningarna och studiens empiri består av intervjuer med sex socialsekreterare och en sektionschef, samtliga verksamma inom den sociala barnavården. För att bearbeta och analysera empirin användes tematisk innehållsanalys. Studiens teoretiska ramverk vilket empirin tolkats och analyserats genom består av två teorier. Den första teorin, gräsrotsbyråkrati, har använts för att förstå och förklara de dilemman som socialsekreterare behöver hantera och ta ställning till i sitt arbete. Den andra teorin består av barndomssociologi vilken utgår ifrån vikten av att betrakta barn som kompetenta aktörer i samhället. Studiens resultat visar att ett bra samarbete mellan socialsekreterare och föräldrar är avgörande för att barnet ska få tillgång till stöd. Vidare tyder studiens resultat på att socialsekreterare upplever att föräldrars rättigheter utgör ett hinder i deras arbete med att tillgodose och främja barns lagstadgade rättigheter. Föräldrars lagstadgade rätt till frivillighet riskerar att innebära att barnets rätt till delaktighet och skydd försummas. / The aim of this study has been to examine social workers experiences of working in social childcare, which requires parents voluntariness in order for children to have their rights regarding support, protection and participation fullfilled. In particular, the study has focused on investigating whether social workers feel that parents statutory right to voluntariness limits children's statutory right to participation and protection. Qualitative research method was chosen to answer the questions and the study's empirical data consists of interviews with six social workers and one section manager, all active in social childcare. To process and analyze the empirical data, thematic content analysis was used. The study's theoretical framework through which the empirical evidence was interpreted and analyzed consists of two theories. The first theory, street-level bureaucracy, has been used to understand and explain the dilemmas that social workers meet and need to deal with in their work. The second theory consists of childhood sociology, which is based on the importance of considering children as competent actors in society. The study's results show that good cooperation between social workers and parents is crucial for the child to have access to support. Furthermore, the study's results indicate that social workers feel that parents rights constitute an obstacle in their work to accommodate and promote children's statutory rights. Parents' statutory right to volunteering risks neglecting the child's right to participation and protection.

Studien syftar till att undersöka hur socialsekreterare upplever att barnrättsperspektivet beaktas inom arbetet på försörjningsstöd, samt hur organisatoriska förutsättningar påverkar i vilken mån barns rättigheter tas i beaktande vid handläggningen av försörjningsstöd. Resultatet visar att handlingsutrymmet påverkar i vilken utsträckning barnrättsperspektivet tas i beaktandet i handläggningsprocessen. Socialsekreterarna beskriver också att kunskap om lagstiftning är förutsättning för att kunna beakta ett barnrättsperspektiv inom försörjningsstöd. Vidare visar även resultatet att det är gemensamt för socialsekreterarna att de anser att det är vårdnadshavarna som har det huvudsakliga ansvaret att tillgodose barnets grundläggande behov. Slutligen indikerar resultatet även att det finns brister när det kommer till att följa organisatoriska riktlinjer till följd av hög arbetsbelastning och utmanande arbetsuppgifter / This study aims to examine social workers experiences about the child rights perspective in the processing of social assistance. The study also aims to examine how organizational guidelines affect how the child rights perspective is taken into account in the processing of social assistance. The result shows that social workers, in the role as street level bureaucrats, are affected by their discretion to what extent the child rights perspective is taken into account. Social workers also describe that knowledge about legislation is a condition for being able to take the child rights perspective into account. The results show that social workers emphasize that the caregivers have the main responsibility to fulfill their children's needs. In conclusion, the results indicate that social workers, who work with social assistance, experience that there is a limited discretion when it comes to child rights perspective in the processing of social assistance. The result also indicates that there are deficiencies when it comes to following the organizational guidelines due to high workload and resource demanding work tasks