The Role of First Line Nurse Manager

Changes in the healthcare system in relation to human resource conditions have somehow adversely influenced organizational effectiveness. In particular, this has exposed the FLNMs to multidimensional and ambiguity roles (management and clinical skills). Studies on FLNMs’ roles have been conducted to clarify this, but little consensus has been reached so far. An exploratory qualitative research method is utilized to describe the terminologies “FLNMs’ roles”. In this regard, sixty text samples are conveniently selected as a secondary data (published articles, health care documentaries, and books from 2001-2012). Meanwhile, qualitative content analysis on the roles of FLNMs has been conducted on one thousand units (sentences or paragraphs in accessible sources) that appeared the FLNMs’ role messages. Results indicated that their roles can be categorized into three main codes and 17 subcategories or factors, i.e., Planning (P1-P7), Organizing (Q8-Q12), and Leadership (L13-L17). More than 50% of the sources have cited “report delivery” and “patient care (health education)” of the planning role; “staff training and education” and “participation in training programs” of the organizing role; and “staff evaluation form and worker training” of the leadership role in their studies. This review has determined three central constructs of Mintzbergs’ (1990) theory, including; “Interpersonal contact (IC)”, “Information processing (IP)”, and “Decision making (DM)” as a conceptual framework of FLNMs’ roles. Further studies need to be established to study other important factors involved.