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Thursday, September 20, 2012
Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to discuss the variety of roles for the nurse in the healthcare delivery system.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to describe how shared governance impacts the health care delivery system.
Abstract: Decision Making: Staff Nurse and Nurse Manager Actual and Preferred Decisional Involvement
Karen L. Barnett, RN, DNP
Abstract:
A number of factors have been identified as enhancing recruitment and retention of staff nurses. One current model is that of shared governance which has been shown in the literature to integrate core nursing values and beliefs that professional practice embraces as a means to achieve quality care. Practices such as autonomy, empowerment, involvement and participation in decision making are advocated in the shared governance model. We assume that nurses want to participate in decision making, but this assumption has not been validated in the through research. Additionally, only one study was found that compared staff nurses and nurse manager perceptions of who was involved in decision making and who they thought should be involved. Therefore, additional evidence is needed to support implementation of practice changes.
The purpose of this study was to explore staff nurse ratings of actual and preferred decisional involvement and to determine differences in actual and preferred ratings between staff nurses and nurse managers/administrators overall and on the Decisional Involvment Scale subscales.
The descriptive, correlation study took place at a community acute care hospital on the East Coast of the United States. Data from a sample including 86 registered nurses and 9 nurse administrators from one hospital were analyzed for differences in actual and preferred ratings on the Decisional Involvement Scale subscales. t-tests between the group mean scores revealed statistically significant differences. Demographic variables were analyzed to determine if any variables were associated with decision making preference. As suggested by the small sample size and the use of one facility, further studies on this topic are needed. The data will be used to identify practices that will enhance decision making and that are reflective of shared governance.