Part 1: The influence of personal and situational predictors on nurses' aspirations to management roles: Preliminary findings of a national survey of Canadian nurses

Heather K. Spence Laschinger*, Carol A. Wong, Sandra Macdonald-Rencz, Vanessa Burkoski, Greta Cummings, Danielle D'amour, Doris Grinspun, Mary Ellen Gurnham, Sherri Huckstep, Michael Leiter, Karen Perkin, Maura Macphee, Sue Matthews, Linda O'brien-Pallas, Judith Ritchie, Maurio Ruffolo, Leslie Vincent, Piotr Wilk, Joan Almost, Nancy PurdyFrieda Daniels, Ashley Grau

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: To examine the influence of personal and situational factors on direct-care nurses' interests in pursuing nursing management roles. Background: Nursing managers are ageing and nurses do not appear to be interested in nursing management roles, raising concerns about a nursing leadership shortage in the next decade. Little research has focused on factors influencing nurses' career aspirations to nursing management roles. Methods: A national survey of nurses from nine Canadian provinces was conducted (n = 1241). Multiple regression was used to test a model of personal and situational predictors of nurses' career aspirations to management roles. Results: Twenty-four per cent of nurses expressed interest in pursuing nursing management roles. Personal and situational factors explained 60.2% of nurses' aspirations to management roles. Age, educational preparation, feasibility of further education, leadership self-efficacy, career motivation, and opportunity to motivate others were the strongest predictors of aspirations for management roles. Conclusions: Personal factors were more strongly associated with career aspirations than situational factors. There is a steady decline in interest in management roles with increasing age. Implications for nursing management: Nursing leadership training to develop leadership self-efficacy (particularly for younger nurses) and organizational support for pursuing advanced education may encourage nurses to pursue nursing management roles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)217-230
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Nursing Management
Volume21
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013
Externally publishedYes

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