Barriers to women’s progression into nurse management in the National Health Service

Abstract

Women are failing to enter senior management levels across all occupational groupings. Barriers to the progression of women into nurse management (NHS) are examined. Substantial evidence of gender‐based disadvantage is found. Women with dependent children, especially those working part‐time, are located in the lower nurse grades irrespective of their qualifications and experience. The resultant outcome is one where otherwise comparable groups of female nurses experience unequal access to the nurse management grades. Three problems are identified: the low status of part‐time work; inflexible working practices and management inertia. Therefore, despite rhetorical support for the introduction of initiatives which would overcome some of these barriers, little has materialised by way of introducing such initiatives.