ABSTRACT
The internship period is an opportunity for a student to gain practice in a real world setting under the guidance of knowledgeable, experienced and successful supervisors. In Egypt, nurse interns' most frequent complain is the lack of clarity of what specific work is required. The aim of this study was to determine the expected management functions and managerial skills for the nurse interns at Mansoura university hospitals. This cross-sectional analytic study was carried out in different clinical areas of Mansoura University hospitals. The study sample included all nurse interns who succeeded in the academic year 2002-2003 [225 subjects], and two nursing leaders group: 54 academic leaders, and 40 hospital leaders. Data about nurse interns and leaders' perceptions regarding the components of management functions and managerial skills were collected using a questionnaire sheet developed by the researchers, from March to May 2004. Nures leaders had higher scores in planning [p=0.04], whereas nurse interns had higher scores in controlling [p=0.006] functions. Also faculty leaders had higher mean Se- ores in all management functions and managerial skills, compared to hospital leaders, p<0.001. Nurse leaders with less than five years experience had statistically significantly higher scores about the management functions and managerial skills, compared to those with five years experience or more. For nurse interns, the scores were highest among nurse interns aged 21 years, and lowest among those aged 23 years or more, p<0.001. Also previous work was associated with statistically significantly higher scores in all management functions- and managerial skills. Statistically significant positive correlations were found among the scores of the elements of management functions among nurse leaders and nurse interns, p<0.01. Experience years of nurse leaders had negative statistically significant correlations with the scores of management functions and managerial skills. Among nurse interns, age had statistically significant negative correlations with management functions and managerial skills scores, r=-0.50 and r=-0.47, respectively. It was concluded that the expected management functions and managerial skills for the nurse interns at Mansoura university hospitals are differently perceived by nurse leaders and nurse interns. It is recommended to frequently conduct staff development programs to nurse i1tems to refresh and develop their competences regarding managerial skills, with more training programs focusing on management skills such as leadership and communication