| Nursing work can be challenging, rewarding, and exciting, and the work environment is strongly influenced by nurse administrators. Therefore, studying factors contributing to work excitement among nurse executives (NEs) and nurse managers (NMs) is important. A total of 399 NEs and NMs, current members of American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), Michigan Organization of Nurse Executives (MONE), and/or Greater Detroit Organization of Nurse Executives (GDONE) participated in this study. Data were collected using the Simms & Erbin-Roesemann (1990) work/characteristics/work excitement instrument which measured personal and professional demographics; level of work excitement and frustrating/exciting aspects of work. The findings showed that NEs had significantly higher levels of work excitement than NMs. Of 23 items listed under exciting aspects of work, 6 factors emerged in the factor analysis, including variety of experiences; enhancement of patient wellness; pace; recognition; personal growth and development; and technology. A t-test yielded a significant difference between the two groups for enhancement of patient wellness. Four responses reported by more than 20 NEs and NMs identified on the open-ended question regarding contributors of work excitement indicated that aspects contributing to work excitement were staff growth and development, planning and implementing new projects and programs; teamwork/working together; and challenge. When asked to identify aspects that detract from work excitement in NEs and NMs, four common ones were indicated by 15 or more of the respondents. These four included: negative attitudes and complaining; budget restrictions; no leadership; and no teamwork.;Growth and development emerged as an important aspect contributing to work excitement, suggesting the importance of unit environments where learning can occur. Findings further suggested that enhancement of patient wellness was less important for NEs than for NMs. Since nursing work is predominantly patient centered, this finding has implications for further research. Another implication of this study was that the level of work excitement of the NEs and NMs may filter to unit staff nurses and enhance performance and productivity. The studies of clinical and systems outcomes on units with nurse administrators with high level work excitement could be important in monitoring quality. |
