Tensions within management roles in healthcare organisations

Scott, Anne; Timmons, Stephen

Abstract

Aim: This article reports the results of a study that gives an insight into ward leaders’ perspectives of their leadership role and explores how they deliver leadership at ward level within organisational constraints and processes. Previous studies have been evaluations of clinical leadership in general, or literature reviews of the ward leader role. The aim of this study was to examine the leadership role of ward sisters and to understand how they lead improvements in quality of care on their wards.

Methods: A qualitative methodology was used, incorporating 19 in-depth interviews with ward leaders and modern matrons.

Results: Three main themes were identified: empty conformity, authority and autonomy, and visibility and leading by example. Participants aimed to be role models in leading and maintaining standards of care for patients, but this was sometimes constrained by organisational processes, lack of authority and autonomy, and lack of support and preparation.

Conclusion Perceived differences between nursing and health service management mean that ward leaders’ efforts to lead improvements in quality care are often undermined. Ward leaders must strike a balance between leading high-quality nursing care, in the context of organisational and political performance requirements, and the demands of administrative work, while often lacking autonomy and authority.

Citation

Scott, A., & Timmons, S. (2017). Tensions within management roles in healthcare organisations. Nursing Management, 24(1), 31-37. https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2017.e1569

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 28, 2016
• Publication Date: Mar 30, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 9, 2017
• Journal: Nursing Management
• Print ISSN: 1354-5760
• Electronic ISSN: 2047-8976
• Publisher: RCN Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 31-37
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7748/nm.2017.e1569
• Keywords: hospital management, leadership, nursing, nursing management, organisational behaviour, role conflict, ward sister
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/853401
• Publisher URL: http://journals.rcni.com/doi/10.7748/nm.2017.e1569
• Additional Information: This is not the version of record.