Managerial interests and personal attributes of nurses

Abstract

This study replicated another by Hanson and Chater (1983) that investigated the relationship between interest in management roles and personality, demographic, and career background characteristics of female nurses. For the present study, 128 sophomore, senior, and master's degree students were asked to participate and a self-selected convenience sample of 69 was obtained. Three instruments were used: The Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), to measure personality traits; a demographic data questionnaire, to measure demographic variables; and the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory, to measure managerial interests. The total sample of nurses exhibited an artistic-social-intellectual profile. The subhypothesis that nurses of different education levels would exhibit different personality profiles was supported. Analysis of VPI scores demonstrated a statistically significant association between higher educational levels of nurses and higher acquiescence scores, (F = 5.1729 with a significance level of 0.0082). Analysis of variance of Vocational Preference Inventory scale scores showed a statistically significant association between nurses interested in management and higher scores on the enterprising attribute (F = 5.7753 with a significance level of 0.0266). No significant difference was found between management and nonmanagement interest groups in demographic and career characteristics. The findings of this study contribute more insight and knowledge about nurses who select management and administrative roles.