title: Leadership, support and acknowledgement of registered nurses work in acute mental health units.
abstract: In acute mental health inpatient units, it is not surprising that culture, peers, immediate management, and sources of support and acknowledgment all contribute to positive nursing outcomes. In this qualitative study, four questions targeting leadership, culture, support, and acknowledgement of work well done were asked of 40 registered nurses (RN) working in acute mental health units. Findings convey a mixed picture indicating variation across units. Three-quarters believe that senior nursing staff actively contribute to a positive working environment. Almost half of the RN nominated peers as the providers of counsel and support when required, and a similar percentage believed that senior nursing staff fulfil these roles. Of interviewees, 33% said their nursing achievements are never, or rarely, acknowledged. For these RN, management, peers, and nurse unit managers are the preferred personnel to provide appropriate positive feedback. Thus, there is a gap between the expectations and hopes that nurses have for senior management approaches and behaviours and the reality of their daily experience. Overall, the responses portray a culture that underpins and enables both subtle interpersonal interactions that might arise out of necessity given the perceived lack of support from non-hands-on RN and administrators.
authors.affiliation: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore. michelle_cleary@nuhs.edu.sg
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horsfall
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Hara-Aarons
authors.forename: Glenn E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D009517:New South Wales; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010557:Personnel Administration, Hospital; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012944:Social Support