The effect of problem-solving and decision-making education on problem-solving and decision-making skills of nurse managers: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives

This study was conducted to determine the effect of an education program developed to improve the problem-solving and decision-making skills of nurse managers through both self- and subordinate evaluations and to compare it with a control group without training.

Background

The most basic skill that managers should have is effective problem-solving and decision-making skills. Nevertheless, studies indicate that nurse managers' problem-solving and decision-making skills are at a moderate level and need to be improved.

Design

Randomized controlled, pre-test-post-test, intervention and control group design. The study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye. The sample consisted of 60 nurse managers (30 intervention and 30 control groups) and 300 nurses or nurse managers working as subordinates.

Methods

After assessing the problem-solving and decision-making skills of nurse managers in the intervention and control groups by themselves and their subordinates, educational intervention was provided to the intervention-group. The problem-solving and decision-making education consists of two full days of interactive training based on case studies. Subsequent to the training, nurse managers in the intervention-group underwent a second follow-up. The third follow-up for the intervention-group, as well as the second follow-up for the control-group and all subordinates, were conducted in the third month after the training. Data were analysed using descriptive tests, independent sample t-test and dependent sample t-test for comparisons and repeated measures analysis of variance for the effectiveness of the training program.

Results

Significant differences were found between the mean scores of the intervention-group nurse managers in problem-solving and decision-making pre and post-test (t=-11.005, p<.001) and case evaluations (t=-10.03, p<.001). Moreover, significant differences were identified in the assessment of pre-training, post-training and 3-month post-training average scores of overall problem-solving (F=93.643, p<.001) and rational (F=7.331, p=.007), dependent (F=13.607, p<.001), avoidant (F=11.543, p<.001) and spontaneous decision-making style (F=4.393, p<.001). When evaluated by the subordinates of the nurse managers in the intervention-group, there was a notable difference in the mean scores of overall problem-solving (t=-16.237, p=.001) and rational (t=-3.472, p=.001) and dependent decision-making styles (t=4.161, p=.001) before and 3-months after the training.

Conclusions

The study uncovered that the problem-solving and decision-making training provided to nurse managers led to enhancements in their respective abilities, a progression that was also noted by their subordinates. The findings underscore the significance of case-based training programs tailored to enhance the problem-solving and decision-making competencies of nurse managers.