Developing nurses’ capabilities to deputize for ward sisters

Abstract

In recent years there has been heated debate on how the training of ward sisters should be conducted in Finland. This is important as in the coming years a large proportion of nurses will be approaching retirement while dramatic changes in mental health organizations during the last two decades have also challenged the role of the ward sister. This paper describes an ongoing project to develop the managerial skills of those nurses working as deputy ward sisters. The project began with a survey of managerial skills, an evaluation of training needs and the necessity for administrative counselling of a group of deputy ward sisters. On the basis of the analysis, a training programme was planned integrating managerial training and administrative counselling in a systematically advancing process.

Operational competency development in E and F grade nursing staff: preparation for management

“…Items such as bleep training, policies and procedures, crisis management, time management teaching skills, financial management, clinical supervision, standard setting and form filling were included in the questionnaire. A total of 85 (52%) were returned (61 E grade; 10 F grade and 14 G grade) and the responses generally mirrored the results from the Pitkänen et al. (2004) study.…”

“…Gould et al. (2001) studied the training needs of clinical nurse managers and found similar results to Pitkänen et al. (2004).…”

“…Secondly, Pitkänen et al. (2004) conducted a project about nurses’ abilities to deputize for ward sisters.…”

“…They defined the skills as being the capability of the deputy ward sisters to respond to the demands of managerial tasks such as human relations, leadership and financial management. Pitkänen et al. (2004) report finding that the skills requiring most training were those dealing with crisis management and conflict resolution.…”

The role of the mental health nursing leadership

“…Nurses and physicians rated leadership positions as only modestly attractive. Pitkänen et al. (2004) found that the challenging role of the ward sister was important in view of the changes in mental health organizations.…”