The challenges that head nurses confront on financial management today: A qualitative study

AIM: To explore challenges that Chinese head nurses confront on financial management from the perspective of different levels of nursing and non-nursing managers and to provide contemporary nurse managers with suitable supports. METHODS: Eighteen nursing leaders in different levels were divided into two groups: Junior Leadership Group (head nurses) and Senior Leadership Group (nurse coordinator, nurse executive, and vice-president of the hospital). All the subjects were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed, and data were analyzed using a comparative content approach. RESULTS: The four following challenges that head nurses confront on financial management practice were identified from the research findings: 1) lack of intrinsic motivation; 2) insufficient training and education on financial management and nursing economics; 3) desires for cross-uniting communication and cooperation; 4) insufficient reference managerial tool. CONCLUSIONS: The confusion confronted by head nurses in Changsha include three aspects: managerial roles, managerial training, and managerial tools. Cooperative management model, evidence-based management training, and data-driven tools will contribute to improving the financial management capacity of nurse managers.