DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICE: ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (CONTINUING EDUCATION).
Contributors: University of Rochester.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 158
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study was designed to ascertain knowledge about problems encountered by nurse administrators in hospitals, medical centers, and nursing homes: to identify their pre-service preparation, both educationally and experientially; to distinguish their continuing education needs and preferred formats for continuing education programs. In particular, this study focuses on distinctions among administrative problems reported by directors of nursing service whose background and experience reflect different modes of preparation for their current work. These distinctions focus primarily on four dimensions of preparation: (1) formal education; (2) time in position(s) held prior to the present position with administrative responsibilities; (3) time in the position as director of nursing service; (4) importance or unimportance of a mentor.

A survey methodology was used for this study. Questionnaires were sent to 280 randomly selected directors of nursing service in health-care institutions. The sample consisted of 123 or 43.9% of the surveyed population. Besides demographic data and continuing education needs, the instrument used in this study consisted of sixty-two administrative concerns.

The results of this study indicate that directors have the most difficulty with fiscal management.

Summary statistics show that more highly educated directors have less difficulty with administrative concerns than do less educated directors; that more time in positions with administrative duties prior to assuming the directorship yields directors with less difficulties in their present jobs; that greater time in the position of director produces directors with less difficulty; and that mentor relationships, although considered important in their preparation for administrative duties, do not reduce the degree of difficulty experienced by directors of nursing service.

Responsibilities regarding matters in the fiscal category elicited the greatest amount of interest for continuing education program needs. Specifically, the two highest rated items for continuing education desires are the management of diagnostic related groups and grant proposal writing. These are followed by financial resource acquisition. An intensive workshop of 1 - 3 days was the preferred type of continuing education program. Those formats which consume the greatest time were ranked lowest. There were comments regarding the poor quality of present continuing education offerings for nurse administrators.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-05, Section: B, page: 1514.

Thesis (ED.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER, 1984.

School code: 0188.