Effects of Head Nurses' Managerial Competencies and Professional Nurse Autonomy in Nursing Performance

Abstract

Purpose: The aim in this study was to identify head nurses’ nursing performance according to their managerial competencies and professional nurse autonomy. Methods: From January 15 to January 31, 2013 a survey was distributed to 200 head nurses working in 5 tertiary hospitals in B city and J city. The response rate was 80% (160 responses). The survey content included the Managerial Competencies Scale (MCS), Schutzenhofer professional nurse autonomy Scale (SPNA), and Nursing Performance Scale (SPNA). Results: The score for MCS was 4.53, for SPNA, 177.05, and for SPNA, 4.62. Nursing performance was related to managerial competencies (β=0.741; p<.001; SE=0.059) and professional autonomy (β=0.135; p=.010; SE=0.001). These factors accounted for 64.8~67.3% of the variability in nursing performance. Conclusion: Results indicate that head nurses' performance would be improved through increased nursing managerial competencies and expansion of professional autonomy suggesting a need to develop work systems designed to achieve high managerial competency and professional autonomy in head nurses.