The challenges that head nurses confront on financial management today:A qualitative study

Aim: To explore challenges that Chinese head nurses confront on financial management from the perspective of different levels of nursing and non-nursing managers and to provide contemporary nurse managers with suitable supports.Methods: Eighteen nursing leaders in different levels were divided into two groups: Junior Leadership Group (head nurses) and Senior Leadership Group (nurse coordinator, nurse executive, and vice-president of the hospital). All the subjects were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed, and data were analyzed using a comparative content approach. Results: The four following challenges that head nurses confront on financial management practice were identified from the research findings: 1) lack of intrinsic motivation;2) insufficient training and edu-cation on financial management and nursing economics;3) desires for cross-uniting communication and cooperation;4) insufficient reference managerial tool. Conclusions: The confusion confronted by head nurses in Changsha include three aspects: managerial roles, managerial training, and managerial tools. Cooperative management model, evidence-based management training, and data-driven tools will contribute to improving the financial management capacity of nurse managers.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Competency Model for Nursing Managers in the Training of Newly Appointed Head Nurses

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of the competency model for nursing managers in the training of newly appointed head nurses.Methods:Eighteen newly appointed head nurses from Yichang Central People’s Hospital,selected between August 2023 and July 2024,were chosen as the research subjects.Based on the nursing manager competency model,corresponding training programs were developed,and these 18 head nurses were trained accordingly.Results:After the training,all newly appointed head nurses passed the theoretical assessments,with a pass rate of 100.00%.The pass rates for two rounds of assessment were 100.00%and 94.54%,respectively.There was no significant difference in the performance evaluation scores between new and senior head nurses in terms of standardized services,nursing quality,nursing research and teaching,and patient satisfaction(P>0.05).Conclusion:The competency model for nursing managers has a significant effect on the training of newly appointed head nurses.It effectively enhances management awareness,facilitates role transition,and,to some extent,improves the management and leadership capabilities of head nurses.It holds high value for broader implementation.

Effect of PDCA on Nursing Management

Objective:To explore and analyze the effect of the plan-do-check-act(PDCA)cycle method in the nursing management of head nurses.Methods:68 patients who were hospitalized in the general surgery department were used as research subjects.The patients were divided into an experimental group and a reference group,with 34 cases in each group,by drawing lots.The experimental group was managed with the PDCA method.The management satisfaction,nursing quality score,and nursing effect of both groups were compared with each other.Results:The patients in the experimental group were generally more satisfied with the nursing services compared to the reference group(P<0.05),and the difference was statistically significant.Before the intervention,there was no statistically significant difference(P>0.05)in the nursing quality scores such as ward safety management,nursing risk management,nursing document writing,rescue equipment management,and head nurse administrative management between the two groups.After the intervention,the experimental group had higher nursing quality scores.Furthermore,the nursing effects such as disease education,quality control,safety management,humanistic care,and service attitude in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the reference group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The application of the PDCA method in nursing management can improve management satisfaction,nursing quality,and nursing effect.