Profile of first‐line nurse managers in New South Wales, Australia, in the 1990s

Abstract

Perhaps reflecting these qualifications, more managers in 1999 indicated their intention to move to more senior management positions in the next decade. The mode for experience in this role of 1 year in both 1989 and 1999 reflects a worrying trend of high turnover and inexperience amongst this group of managers. While maternity relief might account for this result, further research needs to determine more precise reasons. The ad hoc bases on which expert clinicians (clinical nurse specialists) act as the manager in his/her absence need to be critically examined. Alternative strategies such as introducing a formal second- in-charge position may ensure more successful recruitment and retention of staff to these critical management positions.

Qualifications and experience: how well prepared are nurse managers compared to health service executives?

“…However, in acknowledging this, it is still possible to draw some conclusions about how nurse managers are developing within existing health care organisations, particularly in comparison with managers in the health service overall. Table 1 indicates that, compared to the Harris, Maddern & Pegg (1998) findings, the nurse managers in the 1999 study (Duffield et al 2001) represented a distinctly younger group which was also predominantly female. This is not surprising considering nurses are predominantly female.…”

“…Table 2 indicates difference between the two studies' respondents in length of time in their current position. (Duffield et al, 2001) have been in their position for 1-5 years which, perhaps reflects some stasis for senior managers or alternatively, lack of retention of nurse managers. Interestingly, for the managers in the Duffield et al (2001) study the modal number of years in their current position was one year.…”

“…The 1999 study (Duffield et al, 2001) and other studies from the US give clear evidence that nurse managers (in common with other health service employees) are becoming increasingly more highly qualified. Krejci (1999), in a US survey of nurse administrators, found that 68.3 percent of respondents had masters degrees and 10 percent held doctoral degrees.…”

“…In 1999 a team of managers based in one of the largest area health services in Australia (Duffield et al 2001) repeated a study similar to one first undertaken in 1989 (Duffield 1992), to determine a demographic profile of nurse managers with whom comparisons with other available data could be made. All nurse managers were invited to complete a 28-item questionnaire in which a combination of dichotomous, multiple choice and open response questions were asked concerning the respondent's employment characteristics, education history and career future career plans.…”

“…One group comprised nurse managers (Duffield et al 2001) and the other comprised senior health administrators (Harris, Maddern & Pegg 1998 …”