Nurse managers' attributes to promote change in their wards: a qualitative study

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the processes that nurse managers use to promote change in their wards. Design: Qualitative research. Methods: A grounded theory approach was used. Participants were 23 nurse managers and 17 nurses in Japan. Interviews were conducted between March 2014 December 2015. Mainly, nurse managers' data was analysed. Results: The change process led by the nurse managers was depicted as a four-phased process of "having beliefs and empathizing with staff nurses to achieve goals explored by self." Four attributes of nurse managers, "having both micro and macro perspectives," "respecting own beliefs and external standards," "being proactive," and "having empathy for staff nurses," were identified as indispensable factors promoting change in their wards. Nursing administrators should support the cultivation of nurse managers' attributes for successful change.