Assessment of management styles among top nursing leaders in Slovenian primary health centers: a cross-sectional analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aims to endeavor to discern the predominant leadership styles used by nursing managers within the framework of Slovenian primary health centers. Using a quantitative research approach, the study was conducted through the administration of a structured questionnaire. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The investigation encompassed 67 nursing managers, representing the entire spectrum of primary health centers in Slovenia. A stratified representative subset comprising 53 top nursing managers actively participated in this study. FINDINGS: The prevailing leadership style among nursing managers predominantly manifests as the "integrated" style, characterized by a balanced emphasis on both interpersonal relationships and task-oriented elements. These nursing leaders exhibited a proclivity for fostering collaborative teamwork, with their leadership approach notably shaped by traits such as positive thinking, self-assuredness, comprehensive leadership knowledge and an intrinsic motivation to guide and inspire individuals. Notably, leadership knowledge emerged as the most influential factor in determining the selected leadership style. The study's findings recognize specific areas in which leadership competencies among nurse managers may require further enhancement and development. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The study's findings are based on a specific subset of nursing leaders in a particular region, which can add to the originality, especially as there is limited prior research in this specific context. The study's exploration of leadership styles is original in the sense that it provides insights into the leadership behaviors and traits of nursing managers in the given context. The emphasis on factors such as positive thinking and leadership knowledge as influential elements adds originality to the study.

Nursing students' views of the impact of geriatric role-play workshops on professional competencies: survey.

BACKGROUND: Simulation and role-playing are the most commonly used experiential teaching methods in nursing education. The purpose of the study was to describe the impact of geriatric role-play workshops on the knowledge and skills of nursing students. We set one hypothesis: Students believe that learning through experiential role-play improves their professional competencies. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive quantitative study, collecting the data with a questionnaire. The study included 266 first-year nursing students who underwent 10 h of role-playing workshops in geriatric nursing in 2021. The questionnaire was compiled for the purpose of the present study, and its' internal consistency was 0.844 (n = 27). We used descriptive and correlation statistical analysis. RESULTS: Respondents were convinced that they gained and consolidated knowledge and connected theory with practice through role-playing. They especially emphasized the abilities they acquired to communicate in a group, engage in constructive reflection, be more sensitive to one's own emotions, and feel empathy. CONCLUSIONS: Respondents understand the use of the role-play method as an effective form of learning in geriatric nursing. They are convinced that they will be able to use the experience when working with an elderly patient in a clinical setting.

General nurses' and nursing technicians' complexity of activities: Cross-sectional study.

AIMS: This study aimed at describing the job content of general nurses and comparing it to the work of nursing technicians, arranging it for orientation and level of work with things, data or people. BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence on the content of the general nurses' and nursing technicians' job in post-transitional countries. METHOD: A quantitative analysis was conducted. The study was performed in a Slovenian medical hospital and in primary health centre. The variables were collected observing nursing activities at 10-min intervals. RESULTS: Forty-three hospital and seven primary health centres' nursing staff participated in this study. A total of 14,584 nursing activities were recorded. The focus of general nurses was on working with data, and the focus of nursing technicians was on working with people (t = 18.328; df = 34,041; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: General nurses' and health care technicians' duties differ in content. General nurses work mostly with data, but health care technicians with people. The job content of both profiles differs related to the setting. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: It is recommended to return the focus of registered nurses from data to people. There is a need to do job analysis to enhance current practices in nursing management and professional development initiatives.

The quality of nursing care as perceived by nursing personnel: Critical incident technique.

AIMS: To identify the determinants of the quality of nursing care from the perceptions of nursing personnel. BACKGROUND: The quality of nursing care is often measured with standards, expectations, satisfaction and outcomes, but in developing countries, it relies mostly on negative indicators. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was used. Semi-structured interviews based on the critical incident technique were conducted with a convenience sample of 136 nursing personnel who told 225 stories. RESULTS: Seven quality determinants of nursing care were identified as follows: standard of care, triage and assessment, emergency care, communication with the patient or family, communication with colleagues, multidisciplinary teamwork and helping colleagues. The most important one was the standard of care. CONCLUSION: Quality nursing care is based on the degree of excellence nursing personnel show with regard to their competences in technical care, communication and teamwork. A key attribute of quality nursing care is defined by the related standards, and the focus is mostly on the nursing care process. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: These findings can increase awareness of the determinants of nursing quality and the qualities of the nursing personnel involved and can help managers to evaluate nursing practice, select new employees and organise teams.

Chief Nurse Executives involuntary turnover in times of health care reforms: Findings from an interpretative phenomenology study.

In recent years, due to several health care system reforms in different countries, an increased involuntary turnover rate of Chief Nurse Executives has been reported around the World. However, no data on their perceived experience of their dismissal have been documented up to now in the European context. Describing the experience of involuntarily dismissed Chief Nurse Executives was the main aim of this interpretative phenomenological study. Data were collected through face-to-face audiotaped interviews performed by involving a purposeful sample of 13 Chief Nurse Executives; data analysis was performed by using the QSR NVIVO 11 software. The Chief Nurse Executives' experience of Being fired is characterized by three main themes: (1) "Health Care Institutions are places influenced by political turbulences"; (2) "My competence and presence in the arena is despised by a range of strategies"; and (3) "Transiting from darkness to light". According to their experience, the reason for dismissal was due to changes in the political climate and the introduction of a new chief executive officer; moreover, Being fired caused a deep pain similar to that experienced during bereavement. In some socio-political contexts, the political climate can influence the role of a Chief Nurse Executive: political membership, whether implicit or explicit, is considered of great value. In other contexts, the Chief Nurse Executives' value is based on professional competences and achieved outcomes. At times of changes in the political climate, the peculiarities of the specific socio-political context should be evaluated as to whether one should anticipate his/her resignation or not.

The effect of nurse staffing patterns on patient satisfaction and needs: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: To examine the effect of nurse staffing patterns (nursing staff skill mix and patient classification system) on patient satisfaction with the nursing care received. BACKGROUND: Evidence about the relationship between the nursing staff structures and patient outcomes in post-transitional countries is limited. METHODS: The research was conducted in three units of one secondary-care regional hospital in Slovenia over 1 month. This cross-sectional study used three main data elements exploring nursing staff levels (nursing hours per patient day and skill mix), patient needs (using a classification system), and patients' satisfaction with nursing care; 484 patients participated. RESULTS: Significant positive correlations were found between the patients' satisfaction and the realized percentage of the registered nurse personnel requirements, the level of nursing care hours per patient day, and the proportion of registered nurses in the nursing team. CONCLUSIONS: A significant association between the actual and needed staffing levels and patient satisfaction was found. Nurse staffing patterns affect patient outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: This paper supports a higher proportion of registered nurses and an increased number of overall nursing staff working hours. Managers should consider the results of the patient needs categorization system and the workforce structure characteristics as predictors of patient satisfaction.