NURSING LEADERS' USE OF HUMANISTIC BEHAVIORAL AND MOTIVATIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORIES.
Contributors: University of Houston.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 117
Subjects: Education, Administration.
Description: This investigation was developed to expand knowledge regarding nurses' managerial philosophies as they relate to achievement in the nursing profession. More specifically, it proposes to describe the strength and characteristics of nurse' adherence to McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y beliefs as reported by nursing leaders in the clinical setting. To accomplish this, the following null hypothesis was proposed: There are no significant differences in nursing leaders' level of achievement and their acceptance of Theory X and Theory Y related to age, gender, cultural background, nursing program completed, highest degree held, years in nursing management, type of training received.

A sample of 366 Registered Nurses in management positions, employed at three hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, participated in the study. Data were collected using the Managerial Philosophies Scale (MPS) instrument that measures the nurses' adherence to the beliefs of McGregor's two views of man. The Rhodes' Managerial Achievement Quotient was used to determine the participants' level of achievement. Prior to conducting the study, the demographic questionnaire and the MPS were pilot tested to insure clarity and appropriateness of the items.

Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the effects of the independent variables, Theory X and Theory Y, and the demographic variables on the dependent variable, level of achievement. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the internal consistency for the Theory X and Theory Y scales.

A significant relationship was determined between nursing leaders' level of achievement and age, highest educational level, length of time in management, cultural background, basic nursing program, and Theory X. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected.

High achieving nurses were found to be young, Caucasian females. They had been in nursing management for a longer period of time. These nurses received their basic nursing education from a baccalaureate program, and had attained a higher educational level. High achieving nursing leaders were more likely to reject Theory X beliefs. Future studies using randomly selected samples are needed to examine other management theories to determine how management style affects achievement in nurses.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-06, Section: A, page: 1361.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, 1987.

School code: 0087.