The Working World of Nursing Unit Managers

Abstract

Nursing unit managers (NUMs) occupy a first-line management position in many healthcare services worldwide. In this role, they are responsible for the nursing and administrative operations of a ward. The literature suggests that while the position has evolved into a complex and multifaceted one, the scope and authority of the role are poorly understood. Few studies have explored the working world of NUMs or considered how the well-documented oppression of nurses might impact on them as managers. Using a feminist approach, and individual interviews, this qualitative study, which focused on the construct of power, explored the working world of twenty nursing unit managers employed in the public healthcare system of New South Wales, Australia.