Nurse manager cognitive decision-making amidst stress and work complexity
Maria R Shirey1, Patricia R Ebright, Anna M McDaniel
1University of Southern Indiana College of Nursing and Health Professions, Evansville, IN 47712, USA. mrshirey@usi.edu
Journal of Nursing Management
|January 24, 2013
Summary
Nurse managers
Area of Science:
- Nursing Management
- Cognitive Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Limited understanding of nurse manager decision-making under stress and complexity.
- Nurse manager decisions significantly impact patient care quality and safety.
- Understanding decision-making is crucial for developing effective support interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cognitive decision-making processes of nurse managers facing stress and work complexity.
- To identify factors influencing these decision-making processes.
- To explore differences in decision-making based on experience levels.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive study involving 21 nurse managers from three hospitals.
- Face-to-face interviews using the Critical Decision Method.
- Content analysis to identify themes and sub-themes.
Main Results:
- A cognitive model of nurse manager decision-making in stressful situations was developed.
- Key influencing factors identified: role experience, organizational context, and situational factors.
- Expert-novice practice differences in decision-making were illuminated.
Conclusions:
- Chronic stress and work complexity negatively impact nurse manager health and decision-making.
- Potential threats to individual, patient, and organizational outcomes exist.
- Decision-making variations based on experience highlight the need for targeted coaching and mentoring.
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