[Profile of nurse administrators in private hospitals]

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe selected demographical, biographical, educational and professional background characteristics of the nurse administrator in private hospitals and to construct a profile of these characteristics. The results show that the nurse administrator in South African private hospitals is not adequately prepared for her/his managerial responsibilities. She is, however, according to the registered clinical qualifications, adequately qualified to exercise quality control and assurance in the various nursing disciplines.