Nurses’ perceptions of preparedness for acting as Nurse Unit Managers: A cross-sectional study

Background: The Nurse Unit Manager role is vital to achieving outcomes in health care. Although researchshows that Nurse Unit Managers feel underprepared for the role, little is known about the experiences ofsenior clinical nurses as they move into the role. The perspectives of these nurses are important becausetheir perceptions of preparedness will likely affect their experiences, impacting patient and organisationaloutcomes.Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the development opportunities available to potential nurseunit managers in an Australian health service, the effectiveness of these and nurses’ perceptions of preparedness for acting in the role.Methods: A largely quantitative approach was used to collect cross-sectional data via a survey-basedstudy design. The study examined the experiences of senior nurses who had acted in the Nurse UnitManager role, across four domains aligned with the role’s position description.Findings: Overall, participants reported feeling unprepared for the Nurse Unit Manager role, which negatively affected their experiences. Participants reported a deficit in support and structured developmentopportunities provided to potential Nurse Unit Managers. Where education was received, participants reported feeling more confident and prepared.Discussion: The findings suggest that education, mentorship and experience in acting in the role contributed to nurses feeling prepared and confident about transitioning into the Nurse Unit Manager role.Further research should be directed to the development, implementation and evaluation of structureddevelopment programs that encompass these aspects.Conclusion: This study indicates that strategies should be implemented to improve the preparation ofpotential Nurse Unit Managers