Managerial challenges faced by Swedish nurse managers in perioperative settings- a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Management
• Healthcare Administration
• Perioperative Care

Background:

• Nurse managers are crucial for fostering supportive work environments.
• Creating cultures of commitment and trust is essential in healthcare.
• This study focuses on the unique challenges within Swedish perioperative settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the challenges encountered by nurse managers in Swedish perioperative care.
• To identify key areas of difficulty impacting nurse manager effectiveness.
• To inform strategies for improving the support and working conditions for nurse managers.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative research design was employed.
• Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with participants.
• Systematic Text Condensation was used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Nineteen female nurse managers participated in the study.
• Six major themes emerged: employee care, individual needs, communication difficulties, problem-solving, staff management, and dynamic planning.
• Key challenges included managing heavy workloads and constant planning changes.

Conclusions:

• Nurse managers experience significant challenges from overwhelming tasks and lack of reflection time.
• Realistic task scheduling, adequate time allocation, and organizational support are vital for nurse managers.
• Support from superiors and human resources departments is crucial for nurse manager well-being and effectiveness.