title: The role of the charge nurse manager: a descriptive exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the charge nurse manager role.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Management in nursing is increasingly challenging. Restructuring of organizations has had an impact on the scope of the charge nurse manager role that has expanded so that managers are now expected to be leaders. If role preparation is inadequate, potential for role confusion and role stress increases, undermining role effectiveness in this key senior nursing position.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive exploratory study investigated the experiences of charge nurse managers. Twelve nurse managers from an acute care hospital in New Zealand were interviewed. Data were analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes, role ambiguity, business management deficit and role overload emerged. It was evident that charge nurse managers were appointed into a management role with clinical expertise but without management skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that role preparation should include postgraduate education and business management training. Role induction requires a formal organizational management trainee programme and ongoing supportive clinical supervision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New approaches to charge nurse manager role development are needed. Organizations must provide formal structural support to facilitate management development. The profession needs to promote succession planning that would reduce these longstanding problems.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT University, Auckland 1020, New Zealand. antoinette.mccallin@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McCallin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frankson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013192:Staff Development