Explaining Nursing Managers’ Understanding of Value Creation: A Qualitative Study

Introduction. Value creation can begin through a joint development process. Value creation not only relies on interactions between group members but also requires studying other attributes. This study aimed to explain the experiences of nursing managers regarding value creation in nursing. Methods. A descriptive content analysis approach was used in this study. Sampling was done purposefully from April to December 2022 among the nursing managers working in Birjand educational hospitals who were willing to participate in the study. Data were collected through unstructured interviews. Graneheim and Lundman’s (2020) qualitative content analysis method was used to analyze the data, and four Lincoln and Guba criteria were used for the data rigor process. All interviews were recorded, typed in a Word file, and entered into MAXQDA (2020). Twenty-two interviews were conducted with nineteen participants. Results. In this study, eleven participants were female, and eight were male. They were employed at three different management levels, including head nurses, supervisors, and matrons. The data analysis has resulted in the identification of ten distinguished subcategories, which have been grouped into four categories based on their similarities. These four categories are concerned with value-seeking, purposeful identification of values, determining strategies to grow values, and perpetuation of values. Conclusion. By prioritizing value creation and emphasizing its importance, nursing managers can effectively improve patient outcomes and enhance the overall quality of care provided in healthcare organizations. Additionally, nursing managers play a crucial role in facilitating and maintaining values in the organization by contextualizing opportunities for the flourishing of value and directing them towards valuable benefits. Therefore, it is essential that nursing managers have a correct understanding of nursing values and value creation in nursing practice.