| This qualitative study focused on the importance that senior nurse administrators in hospital settings give to the concept of caring in their thinking about nursing administration and in their actions in this role. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with six senior nurse administrators to determine how they define caring, how they demonstrate caring in their nursing administration practice, what factors they think influence a caring approach, and what they think are some of the benefits of a caring approach. The meaning of caring for senior nurse administrators encompassed a concern for patients and nurses and the development of relationships based on respect and trust. Senior nurse administrators indicated they demonstrate caring by encouraging a patient-centred focus within the organization, developing open and honest relationships based on trust and respect, recognizing and bringing out potential in nurses, facilitating the work of nurses, being visible in the organization, and modelling caring. Factors that support a caring approach were identified to be a supportive administrative team, small hospital size, flat organizational structure, the age, experience, education, and nursing background of the senior nurse administrator and the religious affiliation of the hospital. Gender was not perceived to have an impact on a caring approach. The differing values of nursing and medicine were seen to have a variable influence on a caring approach. While health care reform has been a difficult experience, the senior nurse administrators indicated that caring and the economics of health care reform do not have to be in opposition. Factors that adversely affect a caring approach include lack of understanding and support within the administrative team, a hierarchical administrative structure, the traditional image of nurses and nursing, time constraints, and an increased workload of nurses and senior nurse administrators. Senior nurse administrators agreed that the hospital, patients, nurses and senior nurse administrators benefit from a caring approach. |
