Middle managers' ethos as an inner motive in developing a caring culture

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Culture
• Nursing Home Administration

Background:

• Middle managers are crucial for cultivating a caring culture in nursing homes.
• Limited understanding exists regarding middle managers' intrinsic motivations and perceived responsibilities in this role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore middle managers' motivations for developing a caring culture in nursing homes.
• To understand middle managers' experiences of their responsibility in fostering such a culture.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative design utilizing a hermeneutic approach.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted with thirteen middle managers in northern Norwegian nursing homes.

Main Results:

• Middle managers exhibit non-egoistic motives, aiming for a culture of care, respect, and recognition for patients and staff.
• Financial and administrative pressures impede managers' ability to fully promote a caring culture, leading to moral distress.
• Managers acting as role models and engaging in systematic reflection on care values are key.

Conclusions:

• Alignment with inner motives facilitates the creation of a homelike and caring environment.
• Systematic reflection on caring values enhances awareness among all stakeholders in nursing homes.
• Fostering a culture of respect and recognition is paramount for both patients and staff.