title: Nurse managers' strategies for feeling less drained by their work: an action research and reflection project for developing emotional intelligence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To raise nurse managers' critical awareness of practice problems; uncover practice constraints and improve work effectiveness.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Nurse management requires skills and knowledge, underscored by emotional intelligence. The research improved participants' practice and personal insights.
  
  
  METHODS
  Purposive sampling targeted nurse managers interested in improving their practice. Three experienced female nurse managers met fortnightly in a group, for 1 hour, for 10 meetings. The methods included: writing and sharing de-identified journal reflections; critically analysing practice stories; identifying a thematic concern; generating action strategies; and instituting and revising the action plan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phase One resulted in the identification of the issue of 'being drained by the intensity of nurse managers' work'. The participants adopted five strategies: debriefing problematic situations; deflecting multiple requests; diffusing issues; naming dysfunctional behaviours; and regrouping. In Phase Two, participants implemented and revised the action plan strategies, which resulted in them feeling less drained by their work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies can lessen nurse managers' sense of personal depletion. However, strategies cannot guarantee success every time because the emotional intelligence is integral to nurse management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Action research and reflection assist nurse managers to improve their practice and develop their emotional intelligence.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Bev
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Central Gippsland Health Service, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Central Gippsland Health Service, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: Central Gippsland Health Service, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tulloch
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving
keywords: action research; emotional intelligence; nurse managers; reflection