Defining the major nursing administration issue: doing more with less.

"What is the major nursing administrative issue today?" The question was posed to a community of scholars in the masters program in nursing administration at the University of California, San Francisco. Using a modified nominal group approach, multiple issues were identified, explored, and prioritized. There was consensus that "doing more with less" is the most important issue and greatest of challenges. To explore this issue in depth, books relating to the topic were identified, read, and applied to nursing administrative practice. Before discussion, administrative briefings were written and distributed among the group. Previous readings and experience also contributed to the synthesis of ideas over the academic year, and the subsequent development of the following position paper.