Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

Due to the social environment transition and the health care reform, hospital¡¦s transformation has made the high cost nurse resource of the medical organization issue. While facing salary pressure and nursing shortages, nursing leadership has taken an important role in stabilizing/establishing a positive work environment and maintaining good health care quality and job performance. In the past, personality and leadership have been proved to relate to job performance, but few studies show the relationship between these three variables. This study investigates which dimensions of the Five-Factor Model of personality of the head nurse (HN) are related to job performance. This study also analyzes the HN and investigates whether leadership style moderates personality-job performance relations. This study carried out a survey research and secondary date analysis in three regional hospitals of Kaohsiung-Pingtung area. The sample included 35 HN and 174 nurses who worked with their HN for over 6 months. t-test was used to examine the difference of personalities and leadership style in different demographic variables. In addition, the Tobit regression model explained significant portions of variance in these criterions. Results support the hypothesis that openness and extraversion are positively related to job performance. Results also support the hypothesis that consideration is appeared to moderate relationships between openness and job performance. This study show that personality influences job performance. Moreover, it shows that the leadership style could be the moderator between personality and job performance. This study suggested that personality might be a crucial factor in selection and recruiting of head nurses. In addition, providing training in leadership will facilitate the job performance. This study suggests that future studies should increase the sample size in terms of decision making units as well as random selection from different hospital levels.

The subject of this thesis is called ?The influence of the middle nursing management on the nursing care quality?. The theoretical part focuses on head nurses, their preferred characteristics, skills, competencies, leadership styles and the way of implementing changes. The component of the theoretical part is also a description of the nursing care quality, and some ways how to achieve it. The practical part focuses on the influence of head nurses on the nursing care quality. For the processing the thesis has been used the combination of both qualitative and quantitative surveys. Our inquiry was conducted in the South-Bohemian hospitals and head nurses were the respondents. During the questioning survey and interviews we have managed to achieve all our pre-defined targets. Through the interviews we have managed to answer all given research questions. We found that all interviewed head nurses have the professional knowledge of the nursing management field. We identified ways of implementing changes to enhance the nursing care quality in practice. The head nurses stated, that nurses accept these changes after a presentation of professional arguments, and that the head nurses are led and supported during the introduction of the changes by top management. The head nurses, interviewed by us, believe that the adoption of changes to enhance the nursing care quality will help to increase the prestige of nursing and support the independence of this field. Based on the evaluation results of the survey we have identified the reluctance of nurses to learn new things as the most common problem in the implementation of changes.

Vid den perioperativa dialogen möter den perioperativa sjuksköterskan patienten vid tre tillfällen i samband med operation. Detta har visat sig komma både patienter och sjuksköterskor till godo. För att införa perioperativ dialog krävs förändringar i organisationen. Syftet med arbetet var att undersöka vilka förutsättningar som krävs för att införa och arbeta med perioperativ dialog på operationsavdelning. Arbetet är en pilotstudie med kvalitativ ansats, där chefssjuksköterskor intervjuats. I resultatet framkom kategorierna förutsättningar och hinder med sub- och sub-subkategorier. Chefssjuksköterskorna i undersökningen hade svårt att se hur perioperativ dialog skulle kunna införas i deras operationsverksamhet. De pekade på personalbrist, och genom det svårigheter för operationssjuksköterskan att få tid att följa patienten. Vidare framkom det att det måste finnas ett behov hos patienter och personal av att använda perioperativ dialog. De såg också möjligheter att införa det i elektiv verksamhet och att det finns behov av en drivande person som kan starta upp införandet genom projekt. / Perioperative dialogue is a way of working where the perioperative nurse meets the patient at three occasions, which has proved to be beneficial for both patients and nurses. To implement the perioperative dialogue, organization changes are needed. The aim of the study was to investigate what is required to implement and work with perioperative dialogue. A pilot study has been performed, with a qualitative approach, where head-nurses were interviewed. The result presented two main categories, opportunities and hindrances with sub- and sub-subcategories. The interviewed head-nurses had difficulties to see how to implement perioperative dialogue in their organization. Shortage of staff, and therefore difficulties for the theater nurse to have the time to follow the patient was emphasized. Perioperative dialogue demands a need from patients and staff. In daily work the participating head nurses did see the possibility for easier implementation in elective surgery and also the need for a special person to head the project.

The Thesis deals with a change of an approach of a nurse to nursing care provision after her promotion to a managerial position. A nurse appointed to the position of charge or head nurse has different responsibilities, she becomes a manager, her colleagues have suddenly become her subordinates, whose work she has to organize, lead and control. A wide range of new responsibilities might change her approach to provision of nursing care. The aim of the Thesis was to discover whether and how the approach of a nurse to nursing care changes when she is appointed to a managerial position and how a nurse promoted to a managerial position achieves authority among her subordinates. The following hypotheses were chosen in relation to the aims of the Thesis. Hypothesis 1: The approach of a nurse to nursing care changes after being promoted to a managerial position. Hypothesis 2: A nurse promoted to a managerial position requires provision of nursing care in line with nursing standards. Hypothesis 3: A nurse promoted to a managerial position is responsible for nursing care quality. Further research questions were put: 1. Is it difficult for a nurse promoted to a managerial position to achieve authority among senior nurses? 2. Is it difficult for a nurse promoted to a managerial position to control nursing care provided by shift nurses? 3. Is it easier for a nurse promoted to a managerial position to organize work for shift nurses she did not work with before? Quantitative research in the form of questionnaires was applied to confirmation or refutation of the hypotheses. The research sample consisted of head and charge nurses from South Bohemian hospitals and from hospitals in Příbram and Pelhřimov. Qualitative research was organized in the form of unstructured interviews with head nurses from Hospital České Budějovice. After evaluation of the results all the three hypotheses showed confirmed. The research results confirm that an approach of a nurse changes after their promotion to a managerial position. They are much more responsible for quality work among her subordinates. The results of the work will be presented at all-house seminars and conferences and published in a specialized journal. The results will also be provided to the hospital management {--} to the Nursing Care Manager {--} and finally to the respondents involved in the research.

La littérature décrit l'organisation hospitalière comme complexe et cloisonnée. Elle identifie le cadre de santé (CdS) comme un pivot pour traduire et articuler les différentes logiques professionnelles. Sa fonction est habituellement décrite par son travail quotidien de coordination opérationnel au détriment d'un travail destiné à structurer et améliorer l'organisation.En s'intéressant à la gestion de projet, l'objectif de la thèse est d'identifier le travail de coordination organisationnelle porté par les CdS.Elle s'appuie sur un dispositif pédagogique qui met des étudiants cadres en position de tiers pour explorer un problème organisationnel délégué par un CdS. Suite à la restitution au CdS du travail produit par le tiers, la recherche intervention a suivi la mise en œuvre de 17 projets sur une année.La thèse est organisée autour de quatre articles publiés. Le premier qualifie les bénéfices et limites de l'intervention du tiers. Le second présente les deux manières d'utiliser la production du tiers, révélatrices de la relation entre le projet, le CdS et l'équipe. Le troisième article explore les conditions de la conduite du projet porté par le CdS dans trois dimensions relationnelles : en proximité avec l'équipe soignante, en transversal avec d'autres unités de soins et au niveau institutionnel avec les acteurs administratifs et hiérarchiques. Le quatrième définit, parmi 12 variables, les facteurs qui influencent le résultat du plan d'action mis en œuvre.Les résultats montrent que l'acteur-tiers a permis de reconfigurer les relations collectives dans l'unité de soins et a relancé le CdS dans son pouvoir d'agir. Le succès du projet a été plus fréquent quand il a été présenté à l'équipe et discuté en réunion, c'est-à-dire quand le CdS a été un régulateur des débats et un arbitre. A l'inverse, lorsque le CdS a attendu un soutien institutionnel, ou que la conduite de projet a été prescriptive, sans communication formelle avec les soignants, l'échec a été plus fréquent. Au final 71% des actions ont produit une amélioration opérationnelle.La recherche montre que les attributs de méthodes et sociaux, ne sont pas tous identifiés dans la conduite de projet portée par les CdS. Les résultats permettent de qualifier le travail de coordination produit par le CdS de « Projet ordinaire ».Des préconisations sont formulées. Au niveau institutionnel, il est proposé d'identifier une unité de soutien managérial. Il est souligné l'importance de donner de la visibilité au projet ordinaire et de développer des espaces de discussions. Des activités de formation initiale et continue sont identifiées pour accompagner les futurs CdS et les CdS dans leurs pratiques managériales. / Literature describes hospital organisation as complex and compartmentalised. It identifies the head nurse (HN) as a pivot to translate and articulate various professional logics. Her function is usually described by their daily operational work of coordination to the detriment of a job destined to structure and improve organisation.By focusing on project management, the aim of this thesis is to identify the work of organisational coordination carried by the HN.It leans on an educational device which puts student executives in the position of a third party to explore an organisational problem delegated by a HN. After the restitution to the HN produced by a third party, research intervention has followed the implantation of 17 projects over one year.The thesis is organised around four published articles: the first one prones the benefits and limits of the third party intervention. The second presents two methods to use the third party production, revealing the link between the project, the HN and the team. The third article explores the conditions of project management carried by the HN in three relational dimensions: in relation to the medical team, in cross section with other units of care, and at institutional level with the administrative and hierarchical actors. The fourth defines, among 12 variables, the factors which influence the result of the implemented action plan.The results show that the third party allowed to re-configure the collective relations in the unit of care and relaunched the HN in his power to act. The success of the project was more frequent when it was presented to the team and discussed in meetings, that is, when the HN helped regulate debates and be referee. On the contrary, when the HN waited for institutional support, or when the project management was prescriptive, without formal communication with the nursing staff, failure was more frequent. In summary, 71 % of the actions encountered resulted in an operational improvement.The research shows that the attributes of methods and social are not all identified in the project management carried by the HN. The results permit to consider the work of coordination produced by the HN as « ordinary Project ».Recommendations are formulated. At an institutional level, it is suggested to identify a unit managerial support. The proposals underline the importance of giving visibility to the ordinary project and necessity to develop spaces of discussion. Activities of initial and continuous training are identified to accompany the future HN and the HN in their managerial practices.

The thesis "Working strategies of nurses on manager posts" deals with issues of the professional role and manager position of a head nurse. With regard to changes in the area of health policy and health care providing, as well as is the relationship with the issue of professional fulfilment of women on the labour market generally, it is important to know views, ambitions, and motivations of nurses, and their working strategies on managing positions. It includes aspects of harmonizing their family and work roles, as these are the moments determining the position of most women in our working conditions to a significant extent. It is to say, managing of the nursing personnel and health care is a typical feminine position in the Czech Republic, adapting to given rules of the work organization and hierarchical structure of health institutions. The purpose of the thesis is to outline such a frame of reference, which would enable to better understand values and attitudes of head nurses. An indispensable part of this outlook is to understand, how their carriers developed, to identify their managing styles and guiding of the nursing team, as well as to map how their personal and professional roles pervade and affect each other. In this process, revealing long-term working strategies of head nurses is an important source of knowledge and at the same time, an attitudinal reflexion of these contexts by nurses themselves. Therefore, the development of the role of a nurse - manager (specifically, the head nurse and the ward sister) was described as the first item in the framework of the professional live of managing nurses; and conclusions of a series of research studies, focused on these issues, were presented. Additionally, the specificity of management in the nursing conditions was analyzed, including changes after 1989, and possibilities of education of nurses - managers. Finally, an empiric probe into the explored points at issue was carried out. Data acquired by means of semi-structured interviews with selected head nurses in faculty hospitals were integrated with the help of one of classical approaches, through so-called Grounded theory method. On basis of the data analysis, a model of professional paradigm was created, demonstrating several phases of the professional career, through which a head nurse passes, which were called for illustration: Seeking of domain, Circle (changing of nursing lines and sites), Virtue of necessity (situation, where a nurse caring of a child chooses a workplace, which enables such care), and Anchoring in the nursing branch. Then, the manager's career of the nurse unwinds form the "Anchoring in the nursing branch" phase. Life stories of head nurses, built on information from qualitative interviews, include predisposing factors for a managing position. Last but not least, it is also about some imprinting aspects from the childhood and adolescence (e.g., number of siblings, reasons for the selected study). After certain time, a nurse becomes a shift leader and a deputy ward sister, and subsequently, a ward sister and a head nurse. According to circumstances, she uses a combination of several managing styles in this position, like authoritative, democratic, and consultative. The theoretical model of professional paradigm of head nurses, construed on basis of empiric data analyses, opens a trail for further investigations, where it may be possible to examine some consequences in more detail, like the course of the professional career of nurses, their managing styles, etc. The acquired and classified evidences contribute to enriching current state of knowledge of certain segments of nursing issues. For instance, the top management of health institutions may use them in planning and implementation of some policies in the area of human resources, or educational institutions may use it for better and more accurate setting of educational concepts of future head nurses.

Requirements for changes in nursing care on the part of top management Abstract At present, nursing care has been experiencing a great progress. Implementation of the nursing process as a working method has been striven for. The educational system for non-medical workers has been changing. Nurses holding top managerial posts should have competence to lead and manage people effectively in the ever changing nursing environment. To acquire information necessary for achievement of the set goals, a quantitative research was employed. Within the framework of the quantitative research, the questioning method using a questionnaire was selected. The questionnaires concerned were sent to top managers among nurses and doctors working in medical centres all over the Czech Republic. The thesis had three objectives defined. First, to discover what prerequisites top managers miss to be able to implement the changes concerned in the area of nursing care. Second, to discover top managers´ opinions on the system of nursing care provision. Third, to identify differences between requirements for the nursing process method on the part of top managers {--} nurses and top managers {--} doctors. Based on these objectives, four hypotheses were formulated. The hypothesis no. I: The current situation does not allow top managers operating in health service to implement changes in nursing care in practice. This hypothesis has been confirmed. The hypothesis no. 2: Top managers do not require group nursing care as a prerequisite for the implementation of nursing care changes. This hypothesis has not been confirmed. The hypothesis no. III: Representatives of nurses in managerial posts promote the nursing process application as a prerequisite for changes concerning nursing care. This hypothesis has been confirmed. The hypothesis no. IV: Representatives of medicine doctors in managerial posts do not promote the nursing process application as a method of nurses´ work. This hypothesis has not been confirmed. As far as the results of this diploma thesis are concerned, we were trying to outline possible solutions of the issues concerning changes in nursing care. Top managers are recommended to stimulate critical thinking in their employees in the course of work in the nursing process. It is beneficial to improve communication on the managerial level in hospitals, and in addition, to obtain feedback from subordinates with respect to continuing education, to identify effectiveness and needs relating to education on the part of employees and to enable them to participate in the process of the respective changes implementation. To train function nurses in such changes management. To implement a programme aiming at continual quality improvement.

This diploma thesis deals with the psychological aspects of management focusing on the styles of leadership at the gynecological-obstetric department, specifically at the maternity hospital. The aim is to find out what kind of leadership is used by the senior and station nurses. This thesis explores how they interpret the management grid GRID and how they perceive themselves in terms of how midwives perform. For this research were choosen two hospitals, public and joint-stock company. That is why the objective was also to compare the interviews with midwives regarding their motivation, satisfaction and conflict occurance. Therefore the information was received that touched upon these topics and presented the perception of the workers in obstetrician. The theoretical part introduces the psychological aspects of leadership, so that the reader goes through chapters focusing on manager personality, management, leadership, work environment, work teams, motivation, workplace conflicts, stress, burnout syndrome, etc.. The empirical part is presented as part of the qualitative research, which presents the way of senior and station nurses with the help of the inspiration by design of the case study. Further a case study at the state hospital and a case study at joint-stock company are being developed with...

One of the key factors influencing the quality of nursing care practice is the research applied within nursing processes. Therefore it is vital for theory to be closely linked with practice. To perform research and apply its results in practice is one of the conditions which lead to the development of evidence-based practice. Research applied in nursing care is a key strategy resulting into the unification of the human educational and scientific aspects of nursing care. This thesis focuses on the nursing care research and its application in practice together with the role of senior nurses within this process. The aim was to investigate whether and how the nurses are actually involved in nursing care research plus to examine whether ordinary nurses are willing to accept any changes associated with the introduction of the results of nursing care research into nursing practice. Besides this, also to determine whether nurses are encouraged to implement the results of nursing research into nursing practice, to observe nursing care deputies and leading nurses experience in respect to the implementation of the nursing care research results into practice in different types of hospitals plus to determine whether and how nurses introduce the results of nursing care research into practice. The final objective of this thesis was to determine whether the head nurses manage to introduce the results of the nursing care research into their nursing practice. In quantitative survey performed, the research sample consisted of nurses who work in inpatient departments at clinics and regional hospitals - public limited companies of the Central, South, West Bohemia, and Prague. 350 questionnaires were distributed. The research involved 186 questionnaires. Qualitative research data collection involved 12 respondents, out of which there were 3 head sisters employed at clinics and 3 nursing care deputies plus 3 head nurses from regional hospitals - public limited companies. All interviews were entirely anonymous. According to the survey findings, most of the nurses replied that they are not actively involved in the nursing care research. Nurses generally follow published results of nursing care research, but on the other hand, it is obvious, that they follow nursing care research outcomes randomly and without particular focus. Nurses not only that they refuse any changes, but they do not see any benefits of the implementation of research findings into the nursing care practice. The qualitative survey performed met objectives and all questions were answered. Any of the responses can serve for further quantitative research, especially when the results of the implementation of the nursing care research into practice at clinics and regional hospitals are compared.