Abstract
D.Cur. (Professional Nursing)
As a result of the dynamic changes and developments which
have taken place over the past years in the nursing and
health services it has become imperative that attention
should be paid to the leadership abilities and skills of
nursing service managers who are in control of such
services.
It is essential for nursing service managers to develop
leadership qualities, because the nursing service manager
is responsible for the management of nursing services. The
nursing service manager is responsible for rendering
quality nursing to the individual, families and the
community. Therefore nursing service managers cannot
afford to lag behind where development and handling of
changes in health services are concerned.
As the nursing service manager develops and grows
personally and professionally he/she is enabled to
facilitate the professional nurses' quest for wholeness.
They, in their turn, can facilitate the patients' quest for
wholeness.
This research originated because of the needs and
shortcomings with regard to inadequate management skills
that became evident in conversations with nursing service
managers on various management levels in practice, and also
because of existing research by nursing service management
experts. Research and discussion with nursing management
experts showed that there is a need for leadership
development in nursing service managers and that the need
becomes more pronounced as a result of the dynamic changes
that are taking place in the nursing and health services.
These changes in their turn are brought about by the
political and socia-economic demands and pressure on health
services.
The question arose of how to address the problem of
leadership development of the nursing service manager in
the best possible way.
It was decided to address the problem directly through
research, in order to determine how nursing service
managers could and should be educated in leadership
development, in order to satisfy the demands made on them.
Due to the nature of the problem, it was decided to follow
a qualitative, explorative and descriptive design in the
research, with a theory generating approach based on the
model of theory generation of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach
(1968: 415/435) . The first related and three levels viz
factor isolation, factor related and situation related
theories were generated.
In phase one of the research an explorative, descriptive,
contextual design, where a focus group technique of
interviewing was used, was followed. It was done in order
to investigate the leadership dimensions of nursing service
managers, to address level one factor isolation of theory
generation and to identify the specific concepts with
regard to leadership development.
After the results had been transcribed validation
discussions were conducted with some of the participants,
in order to enhance the credibility of the research.
A control of literature was done, in order to compare the
results of the study with existing literature and research
on the topic.
Six main concepts in the process of leadership development
were identified by means of concept-identification, and
concept classification (level one factor isolation theory).
They are role model,· values, participating leadership,
change management, self management and interpersonal
skills. These concepts contribute to answering research
question viz:
To what extent can the exploring and description of the
nursing service manager's leadership practice serve as
foundation for the generation of a leadership development
model and for the provision of guidelines for leadership
development.
The reliability of the research was constantly ensured by
careful discussion of the methodology.
The conceptualized model for leadership development of
nursing service managers was validated by three nursing
model experts and three nursing management experts.
Following on clarifying discussions with model and nursing
management experts the model was refined and
hypotheses/relation statements were identified. Factors
are not seen in isolation any more. The research therefor
now moves to a level two factor related theory.
The description of the model takes the research up to a
level three situation related theory. The description of
the model implies a description of the structure and
process.
Hypotheses are stated after the recommendations because
discussions is only taken up to a level three situation
theory. As a result the model for leadership development
of nursing service managers can be validated by subsequent
research. Thereafter formulated hypotheses of theory
generation can be taken to theory verification.
The model for leadership development is evaluated on
previously stated criteria and the research succeeds to
conceptualize a model for leadership development of nursing
service managers in a logical, systematic way.
The model is an answer to the research questions and
clearly shows how nursing service managers can and should
be educated. The nursing service manager's quests for
leadership excellence, in order to be able to contribute to
the quest for wholeness of other nursing service managers
and followers and to the community.
Conclusions, recommendations and operational possibilities
of the research are suggested and finally, guidelines for
a leadership development programme are proposed.