Abstract:
This study developed a new, valid and reliable evaluation instrument to
measure the level, type and pattern of management decisions of fifteen
nursing students. The management decision score achieved using this
instrument was correlated with two psychological determinants of
management decision making: creativity and problem-solving ability.
The instrument was a written patient management problem in case format,
answered by a free form written response. The student responses were
classified for type of management decision according to the
sub-categories of technical, inter-personal, environmental and unique.
Using statistical analysis a significant difference was found in the
type of management decisions most frequently selected by the study
sample. The students predominantly selected technical type decisions.
This preference for one type of management decision may be due to a
number of psychological and environmental factors. These factors may
program and mold the type of management decisions student nurses make
early in their career.
Low but positive correlations were found between the total management
score and the two psychological tests. This finding supports the
authors cited in the literature who state that although creativity
augments the type of management decision making, it is not present or
encouraged widely in the nursing profession. These factors are worth
considering when the profession becomes concerned over ritualization and
lack of individuality in patient care.
The tool is easy to administer, lends itself to a variety of
professional settings and shows promise with further refinement for
computer application.
