Gender differences in leadership in the health professions

Translation, Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Nurses Self-Concept Instrument (NSCI) to Spanish

Professional self-concept in nurses is understood as the way nurses think and feel about themselves in their nursing role and is both a predictor of quality of care and a protective factor against burnout. The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate the Spanish version of the Nurses Self-Concept Instrument in a sample of 483 Spanish registered nurses. In addition, we analyzed gender differences in its dimensions in the same sample. Internal reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's Alpha, while construct validity was assessed using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The differences between groups were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Factor distribution was different from the original model. A gender gap was observed in the Nurse Thinking and Perception of Capabilities dimensions with higher values in the women group, while in the Leadership dimension, higher values were observed in the men group. While the Spanish version of the Nurses Self-Concept Instrument is a valid and reliable tool to measure this construct, the differences in its dimensions lead to a deeper understanding of the cultural differences in the construction of professional self-concept.

Gender imbalance in executive management positions at the Mexican National Institutes of Health

BACKGROUND

Around the world, there is a significant difference in the proportion of women with access to leadership in healthcare with respect to men. This article studies gender imbalance and wage gap in managerial, executive, and directive job positions at the Mexican National Institutes of Health.

METHODS

Cohort data were described using a visual circular representation and modeled using a generalized linear model. Analysis of variance was used to assess model significance, and posterior Fisher's least significant differences were analyzed when appropriate.

RESULTS

This study demonstrated that there is a gender imbalance distribution among the hierarchical position at the Mexican National Health Institutes and also exposed that the wage gap exists mainly in the (highest or lowest) ranks in hierarchical order.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the majority of the healthcare workforce is female, Mexican women are still underrepresented in executive and directive management positions at national healthcare organizations.

Male educational leadership in Greek primary schools

Purpose

The purpose of this paper can be summarized in the following research questions: How do male school leaders perceive the role of an educational leader and educational leadership in general? What are some of the male school leaders' leadership styles and features? What distinctive factors influence and hinder the leadership process for men in Greek primary schools? Are there any perceived gender differences in educational leadership? What are the attitudes and the level of motivation that male school leaders have towards promotion?

Design/ methodology/ approach

The study utilizes a qualitative approach to explore the views and perceptions of Greek male school leaders in a profound manner. The main research tool is in‐depth semi‐ structured interviews that are employed to a final sample of 20 respondents.

Findings

The results are represented in a systemic model, which outlines the various influencing and resulting notions. For instance, a wide range of influencing factors are revealed alongside a series of leadership styles and behaviors that are displayed by male school leaders in Greece. Moreover, the research paper offers a concise sum of concepts that are deemed to portray leadership effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

Further research may be undertaken in the specific or other sectors, in order to determine or test the various concepts that have arisen. The findings also offer useful recommendations for male school leaders and related stakeholders to understand the educational leadership process in a better way.

Originality value

As there is a lack of relevant empirical work both in the fields of educational leadership of males and educational leadership in Greece, this project aids in understanding important issues and reveals additional factors that are exceedingly relevant to educational leadership of males in Greece.

Differentiating nursing leadership and management competencies

As the foundation of evaluating content for nursing leadership and administration courses, leadership and management competencies were identified from a literature review of 140 articles published between 2000-2004. Similarities and differences among the competencies were assessed. A large intersection of common competencies was discovered, indicating a lack of discrimination between leadership and management competencies. Arguably, this fusion ignores the different purposes served by leadership and management. Alternately, the convergence of leadership and management competencies might reflect that traditional distinctions have narrowed. Nevertheless, ambiguity persists regarding essential leadership and management competencies and the way they are reflected in nursing curricula. If concerns about the work environment are to be remedied for patients and staff, nurse educators are urged to act quickly to identify requisite competencies and better align course content with them. This will better prepare nurse administrators to succeed in their arduous work.

Effect of Brief Behavioral Intervention Program in Managing Stress in Medical Students from Two Southern California Universities

The study aims to assess 1) the prevalence of stress among a group of third and fourth year medical students (MS) from two Southern California universities and 2) the effect of a brief behavioral intervention program (BBIP) on stress management among the students instructed on stress intervention techniques. The stress level was determined by using the General Well Being Scale (GWBS), a self-report questionnaire designed by the National Center for Health Statistics.1 The stress testing was done prior to the psycho-educational lecture on stress. The prevalence of stress and the variation of stress based on gender, academic year (third vs. fourth year) and time of testing (beginning vs. end of rotation) was measured in 104 medical students. To assess the effect of the psycho-educational lectures on stress, the last 32 students who rotated in our service had the pre-test and the lecture at the beginning of the rotation and the post-test at the end of the rotation. Among the medical students studied, 53/104 (51%) reported stress; among this group, 20/53 (37.7%) reported severe stress or distress. The prevalence of stress in this group of students was not significantly different if the stress level was measured at the beginning (46.9%) vs. the end of the rotation (52.8%, p = 0.57). The total stress score was lower (suggesting higher stress) in the fourth vs. third year MS (69.7+/-16.3 vs. 73.2+/-12.7, p=0.2), and in female students vs. male students (69.9+/-14.5 vs. 73.7+/-13.8, p=0.17). Female students, when compared to their male counterparts, had a lower anxiety score (12.2+/-4.4 vs. 15.4+/-4.3, p p0.005), consistent with higher anxiety level, since the polarity for the anxiety questions is reversed. Among the students who had both a pre and post-test (N=32) after the BBIP (deep diaphragmatic breathing, self-control relaxation, walking meditation), the reported stress decreased from 46.9 % (15/32) to 21.9% (7/25) (p 0.05). In addition, scores indicated that the brief behavioral intervention program significantly decreased the anxiety level and improved the positive well-being. Our study showed that stress is very prevalent among the medical students tested, affecting 51% of the students. Among those who reported stress, 37.7% reported distress. Female students reported a higher level of anxiety compared to their male colleagues. Following the implementation of a brief behavioral program, the prevalence of stress in this group of students decreased by 46.7 %. This was associated with a decrease in the reported anxiety and an increase in the positive well-being. Since stress is very prevalent among medical students, increased awareness of stress and early intervention may prevent burnout, improve job satisfaction and ultimately improve health care delivery.

An overview of conflict

Conflict is found in all aspects of society and nursing is not immune. Conflict is also found in critical care units. However, conflict within the nursing profession has traditionally generated negative feelings and many nurses use avoidance as a coping mechanism. This article will provide an overview of conflict, conflict management, and conflict resolution.

Dare to be different: transformational leadership may hold the key to reducing the nursing shortage

Health care leadership continues to run under a transactional style that may be causing nurses to leave the system. Nurses no longer wish to stay in the profession perhaps because they struggle ideologically with the system in which they work. However, nurses may hold the key to transforming health care and dragging it into the 21st century in terms of work practices and reform. This is because nurses are visionary, creative, involved in decision making at patient level and have gender based qualities, and communication strategies that the health care sector needs. In contrast to transaction leadership, transformational leadership and team development has a positive affect on communication and team building. The later style is ideologically suited to nurses and may ensure the future of nurses and nursing in the health care sector. The case study described in this paper was an actual working environment and one that I came across all too often as a registered nurse and clinical educator.