Liu Yi
School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78701, USA.
J Nurs Manag. 2008 Apr;16(3):291-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2007.00792.x.
The perspective of interconnection in complexity science is used to examine the concept of participation in decision making among Taiwanese nurses in the context of Chinese communication culture.
Participation in decision making among nurses has been widely discussed and tested in the Western healthcare systems. Many studies have shown that participation in decision making relates to nurses' autonomy, job satisfaction and quality of care. However, participation in decision making has not been fully discussed in Taiwan's nursing community. In a different cultural environment, participation in decision making may have different effects.
The concept of participation in decision making is analysed in three facets of Chinese communication culture: (1) hierarchical social relationship; (2) harmony maintenance; and (3) insider effects. Key issues Taiwanese nurses might establish different levels of participation and need to use different strategies to enhance participation in decision making for desired outcomes.
While applying participation in decision making in a different context, it is very important to consider the social and cultural differences.
Two implications are made. First, nursing leaders/managers who are working with a multicultural team should be aware of the cultural difference in the pattern of interaction in the process of participation in decision making. Second, leaders/managers should be creative and try to apply different strategies to encourage staff's participation in decision making.
运用复杂性科学中的相互联系观点，在中国沟通文化背景下审视台湾护士参与决策的概念。
护士参与决策在西方医疗体系中已得到广泛讨论和实践。许多研究表明，参与决策与护士的自主性、工作满意度及护理质量相关。然而，台湾护理界对参与决策的讨论尚不充分。在不同文化环境中，参与决策可能产生不同影响。
从中国沟通文化的三个方面分析参与决策的概念：（1）等级社会关系；（2）维持和谐；（3）圈内效应。台湾护士面临的关键问题是可能需建立不同程度的参与，并需运用不同策略来提高参与决策以达成预期结果。
在不同背景下应用参与决策时，考虑社会和文化差异非常重要。
提出两点启示。其一，与多元文化团队合作的护理领导者/管理者应意识到参与决策过程中互动模式的文化差异。其二，领导者/管理者应富有创造力，尝试运用不同策略鼓励员工参与决策。
