ABSTRACT
AIM: Describe the nurse leader workforce in hospitals in the USA over time by exploring three research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of the nurse leader workforce in U.S. hospitals? (2) How does the nurse leader workforce change over time? (3) How do nurses in executive positions (administrators) differ from nurses in first-line supervisory positions (supervisors)? BACKGROUND: Effective nurse leaders use management skills to ensure safe patient care in hospitals in the USA. Changes in the nurse leader workforce have an impact on patient care. METHOD: non-experimental design was used to explore the characteristics of 10,150 nurse leaders using the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 National Sample Surveys of Registered Nurses. RESULTS: Number of masters and doctorally prepared nurse leaders increased from 14.5% to 23.2% along with an increase in mean age. A 30% decrease in the number of nurses in leadership positions was found. Male nurses reported significantly higher salaries P < 0.000. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse leaders are older and have achieved higher educational degrees. Salary disparities based on gender still prevail. Implications for nursing management Identifying and developing future leaders with necessary skills and competencies is critical for organizational success.
Subject(s)
Hospitals , Leadership , Nurse Administrators/economics , Nursing Staff, Hospital/organization & administration , Program Evaluation , Social Discrimination , Adult , Clinical Competence , Data Collection , Female , Health Policy , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nurse Administrators/statistics & numerical data , United StatesABSTRACT
Resilient organizations modify structures to meet the demands of the marketplace. The author describes a structure that enables multihospital organizations to innovate and rapidly adapt to changes. Service line management within a matrix model is an evolving organizational structure for complex systems in which nurses are pivotal members.
