Most attempts to lessen the nursing shortage have focused on external factors, such as wages and benefits. In view of the continuing shortage, however, it appears that most of these attempts have not been effective. Research studies are inconclusive as to factors influencing the nursing shortage. The majority of studies examined why nurses leave nursing; this study investigated why they stay. The purpose of the study was to determine if selected demographic variables (age, basic nursing education, time in profession, type of hospital, clinical area of practice) and/or personality factors are related to nurses' job satisfaction and intent to stay in nursing. This was a descriptive exploratory design in which the survey method was used for data collection. The sample consisted of 200 randomly selected staff nurses who met the study criteria; there were 104 usable returns. Instruments were the California Psychological Inventory (CPI), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, and a Data Sheet designed by the investigator. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, t tests, and discriminant analysis. Results showed no statistical significance between demographic variables and Job Satisfaction or Intent to Stay. These CPI subscales were statistically significant: for Job Satisfaction-Responsibility, Achievement via Conformance, Psychological-mindedness, and Socialization; for Intent to Stay-Sociability, Dominance, Self-Acceptance, Capacity for Status, Femininity/Masculinity, and Socialization. Based on the CPI, some of the conclusions were that satisfied nurses take their duties more seriously, find conforming easier, are more at ease in structured settings, and are more interested in why people act than in what they do. Nurses intending to stay are less assertive, dislike competition, are less sociable, readily assume blame when things go wrong, find conforming easier, are more sensitive to criticism, and are more sympathetic. Significant predictor variables were identified for both Job Satisfaction and Intent to Stay. Implications for counseling, education, and nursing were discussed, and recommendations for further study were included. / Ed. D.

Demand for healthcare services is rising dramatically as the proportion of older adults in the United States increases, and the success of these healthcare organizations depends on cooperation among patients, doctors, and nurses. These interpersonal interactions come with costs associated with managing one's emotions in ways that are in line with completing job tasks effectively, especially as past research has demonstrated that nurses are likely to experience and respond to incivility, and nurses of minority backgrounds even moreso. This study examines the effect of experiencing incivility on engaging in surface acting, or simulating emotions that are not actually felt; how these two factors influence well-being outcomes; and the impact of racial differences in these relationships. A sample of 100 Black and White nurses participated in this research. Results indicate that experiencing incivility increases emotional exhaustion both directly and indirectly through engaging in surface acting in response to incivility. Additionally, findings suggest that Black nurses are more likely than White nurses to experience incivility from other nurses. These results highlight how incivility can contribute to burnout and negative health outcomes and that this effect may be particularly salient among Black nurses.

Examines the contextual effects of social persuasion (represented by self, client, peer and supervisor's feedback) and mastery experiences (represented by formal level of education and work experience) on specific self-efficacy outcomes and perceived advancement potential in a sample population of nurses at a Southern California hospital. Results of the study suggest that self, client, peer, and supervisor's feedback consistently predict significant self-efficacy outcomes.

Globalization has opened international borders thereby creating a culturally diverse healthcare environment worldwide. Skills necessary to manage this diverse group extend beyond technical knowledge, expertise or excellent leadership skills. This study sought to determine the role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in leading a diverse nursing team. A Quantitative, exploratory and descriptive design was applied, using a questionnaire as data collection instrument, to collect data from 390 nurses working in a large training hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The aim was to ascertain subordinates’ views of their nurse managers’ personal competence (self-awareness and self-management skills), and social competencies (social awareness and relationship management skills). The results indicated that the majority of respondents considered their leaders to be effective and emotionally competent. A significant relationship was found between effective leadership and the nurse manager’s self-confidence, self control, empathetic skills and culturally sensitive communication. An in-service training programme was developed and recommended for the further development of emotional intelligence in all nursing managers at this hospital. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Theoretical speculation implies Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) are drawn in disproportionate numbers to caretaking occupations. This study compared the prevalence of ACOAs between nursing and noncaretaking occupations. A cover letter, demographic questionnaire, and Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST) were distributed to a random sample of 196 registered nurses and 184 noncaretaking employees at a large metropolitan hospital. Seventy-nine nursing and 104 noncaretaking occupations respondents completed the questionnaires.Comparison of demographic data for nursing and noncaretaking occupations revealed similar composition regarding age, number of marriages, and race. There were more male, divorced, widowed, and first born respondents in noncaretaking occupations than in nursing.ACOAs were identified in 21.5% of nursing respondents and 19.2% of noncaretaking occupation respondents. Chi-square showed no significant difference between the proportion of ACOAs in nursing and noncaretaking occupations at the .05 level of confidence. Thus, the null hypothesis was not rejected. This study found ACOAs are not drawn in disproportionate numbers to nursing. / School of Nursing

The purpose of this study was to determine if shared governance systems result in an increased perception of autonomy for staff nurses. The population for this study included all registered nurses providing inpatient care at two mid-sized community hospitals in the Midwest, who were not identified as supervisors, managers or executives. The convenience sample was obtained from those completing and returning a distributed survey. The sample was 146 staff nurses from each organization. Only responses from nurses with more than one year experience at the current facility were included in the study. , One hospital had a shared governance system in place. The other hospital had a traditional organizational system.The theoretical framework for the study was the Neuman Systems Model (1989). Staff nurse autonomy was measured by the Nursing Activity Scale (Schutzenhofer, 1987). Management characteristics were measured by the Profile of Organizational Characteristics (Liken, 1978). Also administered was a brief demographic data questionnaire (Schutzenhofer & Musser, 1994).Each hospital provided the researcher with access to participant mailboxes of those registered nurses providing inpatient care and not in management or executive roles Surveys were placed in each mailbox, and drop boxes were made available in unit classrooms in one hospital, and in nursing administration in the other hospital. A reminder notice was placed in each participant mailbox one week after initial survey distribution. Drop boxes were retrieved by the researcher one week following the reminder notice distribution. Study participants were informed about the study by cover letter and invited to participate. Participation was strictly voluntary. Data was available only to the investigator and only group data were reported without reference to individual participants. Participant responses were completely anonymous. Questionnaires were printed on two different colors of paper in order to distinguish between hospitals. No code numbers or other identifying marks were placed on any of the questionnaires. The study provided information on which to base management decisions regarding nursing governance arrangements. / School of Nursing

Thesis (MA (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between burnout, occupational stress and emotional intelligence (EI) in the nursing industry and to determine whether emotional intelligence is a moderator in the occupational stress and burnout relationship. The existence of these relationships was explored through a non-experimental controlled inquiry. The constructs were defined as follows: burnout, as a syndrome consisting of three components: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalisation and a Reduced sense of Personal Accomplishment (Maslach & Jackson, 1986); EI, as the capacity to effectively perceive, express, understand and manage emotions in a professional and effective manner at work (Palmer & Stough, 2001); and Occupational Stress, as an interaction of variables, which involve the relationship between a person and the environment, which is appraised by the individual as taxing or exceeding coping resources and threatening well-being (Schlebusch, 1998). A sample of 220 individuals was randomly selected from a specialist employment agency (in the medical industry) and consisted of two groups, overtime and contract staff, which included those that are contracted to a private hospital group through the employment agency or alternatively, individuals who are permanently employed by the hospital group, but work additional overtime through the agency (contract workers and overtime workers). Three levels were included (1) Registered Nurses, (2) Enrolled Nurses and (3) Auxiliary Nurses. The Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey, the Sources of Work Stress Inventory and Swinburne University Emotional Intelligence Test were administered. A hundred and twenty two (122) respondents completed and returned the questionnaires...

Globalization has opened international borders thereby creating a culturally diverse healthcare environment worldwide. Skills necessary to manage this diverse group extend beyond technical knowledge, expertise or excellent leadership skills. This study sought to determine the role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in leading a diverse nursing team. A Quantitative, exploratory and descriptive design was applied, using a questionnaire as data collection instrument, to collect data from 390 nurses working in a large training hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The aim was to ascertain subordinates’ views of their nurse managers’ personal competence (self-awareness and self-management skills), and social competencies (social awareness and relationship management skills). The results indicated that the majority of respondents considered their leaders to be effective and emotionally competent. A significant relationship was found between effective leadership and the nurse manager’s self-confidence, self control, empathetic skills and culturally sensitive communication. An in-service training programme was developed and recommended for the further development of emotional intelligence in all nursing managers at this hospital. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

M.Cur. (Nursing Management) / Motivation is a process that influence and directs behaviour in order to satisfy a need. Motivation of nurses is important in the primary health care environment since low levels of motivation among Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses; who are in a critical position in health service delivery; could have a negative impact on the achievement of high standards in the nursing profession. This situation is also relevant in a mine clinic setting. The main factor in motivating nurses may be a sense of success. However, levels of stimulation and individual requirements also significantly influence the motivation of a person. As a manager at a mine clinic setting, the researcher became aware; by means of staff progress reports and performance appraisals; that PHC nurses (professional nurses) were demotivated. The research questions were therefore posed: - What are the motivational needs of PHC nurses in the workplace at mine clinic settings? - What should be done to assist these nurses to acquire motivation in the work place? Therefore, it was imperative to explore and describe the motivational needs of PHC nurses in their work place and to describe recommendations for nurse managers at a mine clinic setting to motivate PHC nurses. The study was conducted within the theoretical framework of McClelland’s Acquired Motivation Theory that consists of three basic needs, i.e. the need for achievement, the need for power, and the need for affiliation. A quantitative, explorative, descriptive design was followed and the researcher used a structured questionnaire to explore the perceptions of PHC nurses about their needs to acquire motivation in their workplace. The accessible population in this study was PHC nurses (N = 30) working at the 13 mine clinics. The accessible population served as the total sample.

This study describes hospital nurses' experiences caring for patients with AIDS. A modified version of Speigelberg's phenomenological approach was used which explored the nurses' experiences from their perspective. A total of eight nurses who had cared for patients with AIDS were interviewed. The findings indicated that caring for these patients is stressful. The researcher identified sources of stress as both internal and external. Internal stressors included: (1) fear of contracting AIDS; (2) homophobia; and (3) caring for dying AIDS patients. The two external stressors were patient variables and societal views. Lack of perceived emotional support from nursing administration further increased the stress. These nurses believed this form of support was essential. In order to cope with these experiences, the nurses utilized their usual coping strategies. Common ones were being physically active, relaxing, and talking with others. Different coping strategies were used to deal with the specific stressors. These were identified by the researcher as: (1) rationalization; (2) knowledge-seeking; (3) withdrawal; and (4) involvement. This study's findings emphasize the need for support for all nurses caring for patients with AIDS. Implications for nursing education, practice, and research were identified. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate