Profile of the competency requirements for effective job performance in the head nurse role

The purpose of this research was to produce a profile of the competencies which are most important to effective performance in the head nurse role. The population included 61 head nurses in Salt Lake City, Utah who have been in that position for at least 6 months, and who work in major acute care hospitals in the area. The research design employed was a survey and data were obtained by use of the Performance Characteristics Inventory (PCI) designed by McBer and Company, Boston, Massachusetts. The results of this research raise questions for both nursing educators and administrators: a) Do educational programs appropriately prepare nurses to be managers? b) Do head nurses and their supervisors have the same perceptions of the job and job expectations? c) Do hospital and nursing systems, policies and procedures allow head nurses to manage" in an effective manner?