title: [Perceptions of nursing service managers in the South African Military Health Service on their level of motivation].
abstract: The process of transformation in the South African Military Health Services, has influenced the nursing service managers' level of motivation and the following research question is applicable: what are the perceptions of the nursing service managers within the South African Military Health Services on their level of motivation? The purpose with this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of nursing service managers on their level of motivation within these health services. A qualitative research design was utilized and four focus group interviews were conducted with 33 nursing service managers country wide. The transcribed interviews were exposed to a content analysis. The results confirm that the level of motivation amongst these nursing service managers is low. The demotivators relate mainly to the following: inadequate acknowledgement, job insecurity in relation to the future, problems with the process of integration, transformation and rationalization, problems with management, many labour related issues, poor/inadequate communication, inadequate support, increased work load, poor physical environment, negative publicity and poor self motivation. Although there were a few motivators identified, they were of less importance. These results were interpreted within Herzberg's motivation theory to identify the hygiene/maintenance factors and to assess whether the important motivators were in place. During any process of change, and/or when the level of motivation amongst employees is low, it is important to adequately manage the environment (hygiene/maintenance factors within the Herzberg theory). But it is even more important to ensure that the motivators are in place or to intensify them. It is therefore recommended that a motivation strategy, based on the Herzberg theory as well as the Hackman-Oldham job enrichment model, be developed, implemented and evaluated.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017144:Focus Groups; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008603:Mental Health; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016272:Occupational Health; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D016526:Workload