2003 Volume 6 Issue 2 Pages 46-51
This study has two purposes, 1) to determine reaction types of nurses toward the change and the change levels of the working environment in middle of change, and 2) to define characteristics of nursing leadership styles as first level managers in this study setting. Applying Funakawa's data (6 types of reactions toward the change) as referral, the study with an original questionnaire was conducted at two patients care units at an acute care hospital. In order to determine change levels of the working environment, the results derived from this study with 51 stuff nurses were compared to the referral. The characteristics of nursing leadership styles were found by directly asking what kinds of behaviors they preferably follow to their nurse leaders. The result (response rate 96 %) showed that the working environment was in time of active change since the group of innovative nurses accounted for 83.7 %. The most important characteristics of the nurse managers' leadership styles were to show professional practice and guidance, and to give coaching based on the evidence as excellent. As a result, this study suggested that nurse managers must apply creative on-the-job training manner rather than simple instructive on-the-job training manner.
