First-line nurse managers in NSW: perceived role competencies (Part I)

A survey of 412 first-line nurse managers employed in hospitals in New South Wales, Australia was undertaken to determine the competencies they believed an individual should possess to fulfil that managerial role. Factor analyses identified both the significant functions of the role as well as areas of role conflict and confusion. Thirteen factors identified from four major scales indicated that first-line nurse managers perceived their role to be extremely comprehensive in terms of managerial knowledge and skills. The analyses clearly indicate that competencies related to staffing and financial issues are perceived to be essential to role performance. However, the correlation coefficients (factor loadings) indicate that ambiguity exists with competencies concerning patient care, perhaps as the remnants of the charge nurse role are discarded.