LEADERSHIP STYLES OF HEAD NURSES AND THE JOB SATISFACTION OF REGISTERED NURSES AND AIDES.
Contributors: Temple University.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 171
Subjects: Psychology, General.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to gather data concerning the relationship between the job satisfaction of nurses and aides, and their perception of the leadership styles of head nurses in psychiatric hospitals. In addition, the effect of various moderating variables was explored.

Subjects were composed of 75 nurses and 121 aides, from three psychiatric hospitals. Three research instruments were utilized, the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire - XII, the Job Description Index, and a demographic questionnaire.

Aides perceived their head nurses as exhibiting more leadership behavior than nurses did. A factor analysis of the LBDQ-XII resulted in one meaningful factor named Consideration and a clearly defined factor "pattern" named Structure.

Nurses and aides did not differ in the levels of job satisfaction they reported. Both were moderately satisfied, except for low satisfaction with Pay and Promotional Opportunities. A factor analysis of the JDI resulted in one meaningful factor named, The Job in General and a clearly defined factor "pattern" named Promotional Opportunities.

A multiple regression analysis indicated that nurses preferred leadership styles that included a Tolerance of Uncertainty, whereas aides preferred leadership styles that included Consideration.

Demographic variables enhancing the job satisfaction of nurses were; head nurse length of stay, being female, and having less education. Demographics enhancing the job satisfaction of aides were; being female, having a male head nurse, less total nursing experience, longer lengths of employment at their present hospital, and more education.

A MANOVA indicated an interactive effect between Consideration and Initiation of Structure for both nurses and aides. This interaction was associated with satisfaction with Supervision. Leadership styles high in Consideration were most satisfying, while leadership styles of low Consideration and low Structure were least satisfying. Additionally, nurses found leadership styles of high Structure-low Consideration satisfying, while aides did not.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-08, Section: B, page: 3424.

Thesis (PH.D.)--TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, 1988.

School code: 0225.