Managing Nursing Assets: A Primer on Maximizing Investment in People

Abstract

Nurse managers require critical competencies and skills to thrive in today's turbulent health care environment. A nurse manager's relationship with nursing staff is the primary variable that can reduce nursing turnover and improve unit morale in a variety of measurable ways. Self-confidence is the cornerstone competency required for the nurse manager's success. Nurse managers set the context for the delivery of patient services. To do so effectively, a working partnership with finance and human resources is required. Both functions can provide essential information for real time decision making, including variance analysis, flexible budgets, absenteeism rating, turnover rate, and innovative compensation programs.

Nursing morale: predictive variables among a sample of Registered Nurses in Australia

“…1994, Gaynor et al. 1995, Koeske & Kirk 1995, Flannery & Grace 1999, Livesley 2000, Breidenbach 2001, Cox 2001). Respondents who reported higher levels of patient care provision were more likely to perceive that organizational morale was higher.…”

“…1993, Nolan et al. 1995, Harrell & Miller 1997, Cronin & Becherer 1999, Flannery & Grace 1999, Livesley 2000, Finlayson 2002). Finally, respondents who reported lower organizational morale were more likely to perceive they had lower personal morale.…”

“…It can be argued that the more a nurse is valued for their contribution as part of the health care team the higher the level of morale. The literature draws the link between the nurses’ assessment of their professional worth in the health care system and how that affects morale (Smith 1985, Burda 1992, Flannery & Grace 1999, Livesley 2000, Finlayson 2002).…”

A comprehensive systematic review of evidence on the structure, process, characteristics and composition of a nursing team that fosters a healthy work environment

“…However, papers of the highest level of evidence were given priority in the review. This resulted in a number of textual and opinion papers not being analysed in the review results 21–53 . The total number of papers included in the review results included nine experimental or quasi‐experimental studies, 11 descriptive studies and four qualitative studies.…”

Self-reported perceptions of Registered Nurses working in Australian hospitals

“…1994, Gaynor et al. 1995, Flannery & Grace 1999, Breidenbach 2001, Cox 2001). These teams not only provide professional support and guidance but also shield the members from unwanted organizational stressors.…”