Comparison between the working environment of nurse managers and nursing assistants in the hospital context

Abstract

Objective: Comparing the working environment of nurse managers and nursing assistants in the hospital context. Method: A mixed methods research with concomitant triangulation of data developed in a university hospital in the South of Brazil. Participants in the quantitative study were 94 nursing assistants and 12 nurse managers. The data were collected using the Brazilian Nursing Work Index - Revised (B-NWI-R) and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Eight (8) nurse managers and 18 nursing assistants were interviewed for the qualitative study. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Results: The total B-NWI-R mean score for nurse managers was 2.15±0.39, and for nursing assistants it was 2.22±0.39. No statistical significance was identified in the comparison between the groups (p=0.508). The qualitative results show the existence of collaborative relationships between nurse managers and nursing assistants. Conclusion: The working environment was similarly evaluated by nurse managers and nursing assistants in the hospital context.