Action process of nurse administrators to problematic situations based on Orlando's theory.

This study used Orlando's theory to investigate the action process of nurse administrators to realistic hypothetical situations presented to them by their staff. Ninety subjects recorded their thoughts, feelings and actions in response to six problematic situations. Findings indicated the administrators' first thought was seldom about their staff's reaction to the situation. Most experienced negative feelings about the staff member or about other people associated with the situation which were not expressed. The majority of administrators would handle the situation alone or tell the nurse what to do; less than half would ask their staff a question. The conclusion was that subjects did not consider situations as problematic.