Involvement of Nurse Managers in Promoting the Growth of Mid-Career Nurses through Organizational Role Assignment

Abstract

Objectives: To elucidate the involvement of nurse managers in supporting the growth of mid-career nurses through the performance of assigned organizational roles.

Methods: In this qualitative descriptive study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 nurse managers and the data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

Results: Analysis extracted one core category, "timely dialogue," and nine additional categories, "assessment of skills," "intentions of organizational role assignment," "direction to fulfill roles," "provision of environments that facilitate role accomplishment," "multilateral awareness of the state of role performance using every information resources or tools," "support of independence," "recognition for career advancement," "encouragement to overcome weakness," and "encouragement to step up for better achievement." "Timely dialogue" served as a basis for nurse managers to facilitate role performance among mid-career nurses.

Discussion: For mid-career nurses about to take on an organizational role for the first time, nurse managers showed a clear path, understood the state of performance, and engaged in timely dialogue. The involvement of nurse managers enhanced intrinsic motivation, provided approval, and promoted reflection. In addition, by assigning mid-career nurses organizational roles, nurse managers provided them a chance to undertake challenges, overcome difficulties encountered through the challenges, develop relationships of trust with people around them, experience personal growth, and make a leap forward.