Interactions between a Head Nurse and Nurses in Workplace Communication: Focusing on Nurses’ Learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of the interactions between a head nurse and nurses and to determine the factors necessary for effective workplace communication from the nurses’ perspective based on their interactions with the head nurse. The study was conducted through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 3 head nurses and 24 nurses with more than 4 consecutive years of experience. Based on data analysis, 10 themes emerged from the 22 characteristics of interaction. Nurses acquired knowledge and judgment through interactions with the head nurse, which they reflected on and considered a bases for changing their thoughts and actions. The nurses’ learning from observing the behavior of the head nurse indicated that there are many interactions associated with education in workplace communication. However, nurses’ learning sometimes ended only with the interactions. Moreover, there were aspects that did not result in the sustained transformation of ideas and actions. It was thought that the main factor was that nurses’ learning depended on their interpretation, and assumptions constrained the view of the head nurse and nurses. It was suggested that it is necessary to communicate ideas and appropriate feedback from the head nurse among each other to develop the nurses’ learning into transformative learning.