Organizational culture norms : a descriptive analysis of medical surgical nursing units

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Authors
Brown, Rosalyn
Advisor
Issue Date
2002
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.S.)
Department
School of Nursing
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Work culture has a compelling effect on work environment. Because culture can either inhibit or promote change, it needs to be examined and understood. In order to understand the impact of changes and redesigns on work behaviors, analysis of the nursing unit culture must be done. The purpose of this study is to assess cultural norms and behaviors of the staff at the nursing unit level. The conceptual framework for this study is the General Systems theory. The population (N=200) will be registered nurses and licensed practical nurses on eight inpatient nursing units representing medical-surgical nursing at one hospital. The anticipated sample will be between 75100 participants. After identifying the nurse managers, sending a letter explaining the purpose of the study, and a copy of the tool, staff will be asked to participate in the study. The participants will be asked to complete the Nursing Unit Cultural Assessment Tool (NUCAT), which assesses 50 cultural behaviors found to be valid indicators of behaviors that are important to practicing nurses and that differ between nursing units. Demographic data will also be collected.A cover letter explaining the study will be given to all regularly scheduled, inpatient, medical-surgical nursing personnel. Participation will be strictly voluntary and the identity of participants will be confidential. The participants will be instructed to make no identifying marks or signatures to the tool. Participants may fill out the tool on break times or may take the tool home, complete it and return it to the researcher's box on each unit.No risks have been identified. Benefits include identifying cultural behaviors present in an organization. Study results will be given to the vice-president of operations to assist in ongoing changes. The study design is comparative descriptive and the data will be analyzed by using descriptive statistics and t-test.

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