LEADERSHIP PERCEPTION IN NURSES BELONGING TO A SOUTHERN HOSPITAL IN CHILE

Abstract

Objective: To know the perception of Nurses Leadership (os) at San Carlos Hospital, from Ancud city in Chiloe island, Chile. Method: A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and interpretative through a single case study, was conducted. Key informants were six nurses working in responsibility positions. The data were collected through focus group. The analysis followed a pattern through the progressive reduction (separation units, grouping, identification and classification of elements), disposal, processing and obtaining verifiable conclusions, validating it through triangulation by researchers. Results: From the discourse emerged 118 units of meaning, emerging four categories. The most frequent ones were “Meaning of Leadership” (40), “Leadership in the functions” (33), and “Factors facilitating leadership development” (28). While the lowest frequency one was “Factors that hinder leadership development” (17). At the end of the two qualitative domains rise “Conceptualizing Leadership with nurses (I) at San Carlos Hospital (Ancud)” and “Correspondence between functions and Nursing Leadership exercise”. Conclusion: Leadership is perceived by most as a set of features and not as a process of influence; there is no clear concept of it, but it is recognized as a fundamental element for the different functions within the scope of professional practice, focusing on care, which identifies more generally hindering and facilitating factors associated with the “Quality of patient care”