Nurses as Managers: Education and Support for the Role

Nursing unit managers (NUM's) occupy the often unenviable position of first-line management in many health services in Australia. As such, their role is complex and multifaceted requiring an intertwining of their clinical and managerial responsibilities. While there is an abundance of studies that explore and describe the various management roles in many professions and industries, little is known about nurses as managers. This paper will report on a qualitative study that explored the stories of a number of nursing unit managers in New South Wales, Australia. One focus of the study was to identify the education and preparation provided for nursing unit managers prior to and during the early days of taking up their position. Data was collected using unstructured individual interview, NUM's were asked to comment on the scope of their role and responsibilities both as a nurse and as a manager, and their feelings about the adequacy of the education they received for the role. The findings indicate that the participants often experience feelings of uncertainty and role conflict. The implications of these findings will be discussed with reference to the nature of the conflicts described by the participants and their suggestions for educational preparation that would better prepare them for this complex role. Finally this paper will identify how the findings could enhance the existing support and education provided for aspiring nursing unit managers.