Administrative Supervisors: A Qualitative Exploration of Their Perceived Role

Abstract

The administrative supervisor, who is the nurse manager present on the night and weekend shifts, can be found in hospitals throughout the United States. Yet, very little research has been published about this role on weekend and night shifts in acute care hospitals. The objective of this qualitative research study was to gain a better understanding of the administrative supervisor role. In-depth interviews with administrative supervisors were conducted at acute care hospitals in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Thematic analysis was used to reduce the data and identify codes and themes. Administrative supervisors experience and described their role within a "different" hospital world on weekends and at night. The administrative supervisors consistently stated that they oversee and are responsible for staffing and patient flow, crisis management, and management support for the staff. That administrative supervision is a challenging position for nurses is particularly evident as researchers seek to obtain a better understanding of how nurse leaders make a difference. This research delineates these different supervisor role responsibilities to provide a better understanding of management during the "off-shift." Nurse leaders can utilize this information to assist in justifying the need for this shift management role at their institutions.