Mapping and Changing Informal Nurse Leadership Communication Pathways in a Health System
Purpose: Social network analysis (SNA) is increasingly being used to provide a visual and quantitative analysis of relationships among groups of staff and other subjects of interest. This paper examines the role SNA can play in identifying existing networks, and measures the impact of participation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2015-03-01
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| Series: | Asian Nursing Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1976131715000043 |
| _version_ | 1819067246846148608 |
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| author | David C. Benton, PhD, RN, FRCN |
| author_facet | David C. Benton, PhD, RN, FRCN |
| author_sort | David C. Benton, PhD, RN, FRCN |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Social network analysis (SNA) is increasingly being used to provide a visual and quantitative analysis of relationships among groups of staff and other subjects of interest. This paper examines the role SNA can play in identifying existing networks, and measures the impact of participation in brief task-focused project groups on the underlying communication pathways.
Methods: An SNA of a closed group of nurse leaders was conducted in a health system in Scotland, UK. Data were collected on two occasions 6 months apart. Analysis of both whole network and individual node-based (nurse leader) measures were undertaken.
Results: Analysis revealed that the initial network structure was related to functional departments. By establishing task and finish groups, network density and other key measures could be improved.
Conclusions: SNA is a useful tool in mapping existing networks and evaluating how these can be strengthened through the use of task orientated project work. This easy-to-use technique can provide useful insights and a means of targeting management action to improve communication pathways in a moderately large and complex nurse leadership group. Further clinical and academic potential uses of the technique are suggested. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:15:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3843700ca66243f2a9682a9f4c2f0c8e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1976-1317 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:15:13Z |
| publishDate | 2015-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Nursing Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-3843700ca66243f2a9682a9f4c2f0c8e2022-12-21T18:57:43ZengElsevierAsian Nursing Research1976-13172015-03-0191283410.1016/j.anr.2014.10.006Mapping and Changing Informal Nurse Leadership Communication Pathways in a Health SystemDavid C. Benton, PhD, RN, FRCNPurpose: Social network analysis (SNA) is increasingly being used to provide a visual and quantitative analysis of relationships among groups of staff and other subjects of interest. This paper examines the role SNA can play in identifying existing networks, and measures the impact of participation in brief task-focused project groups on the underlying communication pathways. Methods: An SNA of a closed group of nurse leaders was conducted in a health system in Scotland, UK. Data were collected on two occasions 6 months apart. Analysis of both whole network and individual node-based (nurse leader) measures were undertaken. Results: Analysis revealed that the initial network structure was related to functional departments. By establishing task and finish groups, network density and other key measures could be improved. Conclusions: SNA is a useful tool in mapping existing networks and evaluating how these can be strengthened through the use of task orientated project work. This easy-to-use technique can provide useful insights and a means of targeting management action to improve communication pathways in a moderately large and complex nurse leadership group. Further clinical and academic potential uses of the technique are suggested.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1976131715000043knowledge managementleadershipsocial networkingteam nursing |
| spellingShingle | David C. Benton, PhD, RN, FRCN Mapping and Changing Informal Nurse Leadership Communication Pathways in a Health System Asian Nursing Research knowledge management leadership social networking team nursing |
| title | Mapping and Changing Informal Nurse Leadership Communication Pathways in a Health System |
| title_full | Mapping and Changing Informal Nurse Leadership Communication Pathways in a Health System |
| title_fullStr | Mapping and Changing Informal Nurse Leadership Communication Pathways in a Health System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mapping and Changing Informal Nurse Leadership Communication Pathways in a Health System |
| title_short | Mapping and Changing Informal Nurse Leadership Communication Pathways in a Health System |
| title_sort | mapping and changing informal nurse leadership communication pathways in a health system |
| topic | knowledge management leadership social networking team nursing |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1976131715000043 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidcbentonphdrnfrcn mappingandchanginginformalnurseleadershipcommunicationpathwaysinahealthsystem |