Nurse managers' perceptions of nurses' professional autonomy-A qualitative interview study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Nurse managers play a crucial role in shaping the healthcare environment.
• Understanding their perceptions of nurses' professional autonomy is essential for improving nursing practice.
• This study explores nurse managers' views on autonomy and their role in fostering it within hospital settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe nurse managers' perceptions of nurses' professional autonomy in hospitals.
• To identify the role nurse managers play in promoting nurses' professional autonomy.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative descriptive approach was employed.
• Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 15 nurse managers in two Finnish university hospitals.
• Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the collected data.

Main Results:

• Nurses' professional autonomy is perceived through themes of individual qualities, limited organizational influence, and physicians' central role.
• Nurse managers promote autonomy by fostering independence, ensuring competence, supporting expert roles in collaboration, and cultivating an appreciative work community.
• Key factors influencing autonomy include individual nurse attributes and organizational structures.

Conclusions:

• Shared leadership by nurse managers can enhance nurses' professional autonomy.
• Gaps persist in nurses' influence within multi-professional work, particularly outside direct patient care.
• Organizational commitment and leadership support at all levels are vital for promoting nurses' autonomy and maximizing their expertise.