Magnet recognition program in terms of leadership : possibilities and implication at a tertiary care university hospital, Pakistan
Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)
Department
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan
Abstract
Internationally, the high turnover ratio among nurses is a persistent challenge for the health care industry (Currie & Carr Hill, 2012; Lu, While, & Barriball, 2005). In Pakistan, many of the private tertiary care hospitals have been facing this challenge for a long time (personal communication, June 18, 2014). The Tertiary Care University Hospital under Study (TCUHS) is one of those hospitals; it has a turnover ratio among nurses that is higher than the international level. It seems that the TCUHS has yet to provide a reliable solution for this issue. In this connection, fulfilling the pre-requisites of the Magnet Recognition Program (MRP) seems a promising solution, which has been tested in both developed and developing countries alike with attested success reported by the researchers. The MRP was established to serve as a way to recognize the healthcare organizations that practice policies which maintain nursing excellence. Nurses in Magnet hospitals are 18% less likely to be dissatisfied with their work and 13% less likely to suffer burnout (Kelly, McHugh, & Aiken, 2011). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the degree of application of the Transformational Leadership Style (TLS) required for the MRP, at a tertiary care university hospital in Pakistan. Furthermore, this study aimed to provide the nursing leaders in this hospital with information about the changes needed in order to become Transformational Leaders (TLs). Methodology: This study used a qualitative descriptive exploratory design. Its population included all nursing leaders at the hospital under study, and its sample selected through purposive sampling. The data was collected through interviews. The data analysis plan was built on the basis of the Hanson et al. (2011) data analysis framework. Lincoln and Cuba's criteria of trustworthiness in qualitative research were adopted to maintain the study rigour. Results: The overall findings of this study showed that nursing leaders at the TCUHS shared a lot of characteristics with the TLs, and they seemed generally aware of the qualities that TLs should have. However, certain areas were identified in which support seems to be needed in order to close the existing gap toward a full application of TLS by the nursing leaders at the TCUHS. These includes: the leaders' communication skills in regard to culturally sensitive topics, such as gender issues; the leaders' knowledge about transformative ways to motivate the staff, to support team spirit among the staff, and to facilitate the staff toward the application of the institution's vision and values. Recommendations and Implications Based on its findings, this study recommended that future studies at the TCUHS should be conducted to explore the reasons behind the limited experience in leadership that the nursing leaders seem to have; to explore the embedded reasons why some of the nursing leaders do not apply their perceptions into practices all the time; and to explore the reasons why some of the nursing leaders demonstrate a lack of clear understanding of their job description. Furthermore, continuing education that focuses on improving the nursing leaders' communication skills with regard to the culturally sensitive topics, such as gender issues; knowledge about transformative ways to motivate the staff, to support team spirit among the staff, and to facilitate the staff toward the application of the institution's vision and values, should be offered. Conclusion: The findings of the study showed a high possibility for successful application of the MRP at the TCUHS, in terms of TLS — the study focus and the first component of the Magnet model. However, a few needs, in order to make the TCUHS nursing leaders TLs, have been identified, which are listed in the study recommendations.
Recommended Citation
Alarbeed, A. (2014). Magnet recognition program in terms of leadership : possibilities and implication at a tertiary care university hospital, Pakistan (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.