Comparisons of self-ratings on managerial competencies, research capability, time management, executive power, workload and work stress among nurse administrators.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of and the differences in managerial competencies, research capability, time management, executive power, workload and work-stress ratings among nurse administrators (NAs), and to determine the best predictors of managerial competencies for NAs.


BACKGROUND
Although NAs require multifaceted managerial competencies, research related to NAs' managerial competencies is limited.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 330 NAs from 16 acute care hospitals. Managerial competencies were determined through a self-developed questionnaire. Data were collected in 2011.


RESULTS
All NAs gave themselves the highest rating on integrity and the lowest on both financial/budgeting and business acumen. All scores for managerial competencies, research capability, time management and executive power showed a statistically significant correlation. The stepwise regression analysis revealed that age; having received NA training; having completed a nursing project independently; and scores for research capability, executive power and workload could explain 63.2% of the total variance in managerial competencies.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides recommendations for future administrative training programmes to increase NAs' managerial competency in fulfilling their management roles and functions.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings inform leaders of hospitals where NAs need to develop additional competencies concerning the type of training NAs need to function proficiently.
Nursing Department, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chun-Mei
CM
Kang
Hsiao-Ting
HT
Chiu
Yi-Chun
YC
Hu
Hsiao-Lien
HL
Chen
Pi-Hsia
PH
Lee
Wen-Yin
WY
Chang
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013624:Taiwan; D017748:Time Management / Q000379:methods*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*