A comparison of middle managers' and paediatric nurses' satisfaction with organisational communication

Abstract

Aims: To explore the differences in organisational communication satisfaction between ward paediatric nurses and middle managers, and to assess whether there is a difference in organisational communication satisfaction between paediatric nurses and middle managers with different educational levels, years of nursing and managerial experience, contracted hours, area of work, age and gender.

Background: Previous studies reported a connection between job satisfaction, work commitment and organisational communication; however, nurses' and nursing middle managers' satisfaction with organisational communication has not been extensively studied in recent years and not at all among paediatric nurses.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative research design using online and hard copy self-reported questionnaires was used. Data were collected at one point in time from paediatric nurses and middle (nursing) managers working in a tertiary paediatric hospital in Australia. Statistical methods were employed for data analysis.

Results: The middle management group were significantly more dissatisfied with organisational communication than the paediatric ward nurse group. Middle managers were found in this study to effectively manage and maintain communication lines with the personnel who reported to them; however, communication within the management cohort itself was found to be suboptimal.

Conclusion: Further research to understand how horizontal and vertical communications at the nurse manager and executive level can be optimised is required.

Implications for nursing management: It is anticipated that the findings from this study may increase the understanding of communication satisfaction between paediatric nurses and middle managers. The study has highlighted the need for improvement with information flow in the management cohort with the addition of extra managerial support and empowerment.

Keywords: management; nurses; organisational communication; paediatric; satisfaction.