Exploring competencies: a qualitative study of Chinese nurse managers

Area of Science:

• Nursing Management
• Healthcare Leadership
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Growing recognition of nurse managers' crucial role in hospital settings.
• Limited research on Chinese nurse managers' perceptions and development needs.
• Need for targeted training to enhance management skills and address role transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify essential core competencies for nurse managers.
• To understand the developmental phases nurse managers experience.
• To inform the creation of effective training programs for Chinese nurse managers.

Main Methods:

• Phenomenological approach utilized.
• In-depth interviews conducted with 12 nurse managers.
• Data collected from six Chinese hospitals.

Main Results:

• Nurse managers' transition to leadership involves four phases: adaptive, running-in/stable, stagnation, and maturation.
• Multifaceted competencies are crucial for fulfilling clinical responsibilities.
• Key areas for development include communication and stress management.

Conclusions:

• Nurse managers must cultivate diverse competencies, particularly in communication and stress management, to achieve excellence.
• Progression through the identified four phases is ideal for nurse manager development.
• Utilizing varied methods is essential for supporting nurse managers in role adaptation, communication enhancement, and stress reduction.