MacPhee Maura, Scott Jill
The Children's Hospital of Denver and The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, 80262, USA.
J Nurs Adm. 2002 May;32(5):264-72. doi: 10.1097/00005110-200205000-00006.
This survey study describes the workplace social support networks of rural hospital nurses in one geographic region of Colorado. This rural sample was compared with data from a sample of urban hospital nurses in Colorado.
Social support networks influence nurses' satisfaction and retention. Nursing recruitment and retention is especially critical in rural areas where it takes healthcare facilities 60% longer than urban facilities to fill nursing vacancies. Little is known about rural nurses' social support networks.
The Social Network Questionnaire (SNQ) was mailed to all nurses within one rural region of Colorado. Descriptive, correlational and comparative statistics were used to evaluate the structure and function of these nurses' networks.
The nurses' networks were predominantly peer-based, but managers provided significant functional supports. The types of support provided by managers depended on the managers' placement in the nurses' networks. Some managers provided only performance feedback, and other managers offered physical assistance and emotional support. Rural nurses expected more guidance from management than did their urban counterparts.
This sample of nurses clearly delineated the types of leadership styles most beneficial to them. Communication of roles and expectations between staff and management can enhance nursing satisfaction in the workplace setting.
本调查研究描述了科罗拉多州一个地理区域内乡村医院护士的工作场所社会支持网络。将这个乡村样本与科罗拉多州城市医院护士样本的数据进行了比较。
社会支持网络会影响护士的满意度和留任意愿。护理人员的招聘和留用在农村地区尤为关键，因为农村医疗机构填补护理岗位空缺的时间比城市机构长60%。对于农村护士的社会支持网络，人们了解甚少。
《社会网络问卷》（SNQ）被邮寄给科罗拉多州一个农村地区的所有护士。描述性、相关性和比较性统计方法被用于评估这些护士网络的结构和功能。
护士的网络主要以同行关系为基础，但管理者提供了重要的功能性支持。管理者提供的支持类型取决于其在护士网络中的位置。一些管理者只提供绩效反馈，而其他管理者则提供实际帮助和情感支持。与城市护士相比，农村护士期望从管理层获得更多指导。
这个护士样本清楚地界定了对他们最有益的领导风格类型。员工与管理层之间角色和期望的沟通可以提高工作场所环境中的护理满意度。
