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Social networks and work/nonwork life: Action‐research with nurse managers
Author(s) -
Hirsch Barton J.,
David Thomas G.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/bf00896801
Subject(s) - quality of working life , psychology , health psychology , nursing , quality of life (healthcare) , context (archaeology) , participatory action research , social support , action (physics) , work (physics) , sociology , applied psychology , social psychology , job satisfaction , public health , medicine , paleontology , mechanical engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , anthropology , engineering , biology
An action-research project with hospital nurses is reported which explores the utility of social network analysis for understanding and enhancing the quality of work life. Based on a framework for conceptualizing work stressors, we present a rationale for developing resource-support groups. These groups combine emotional support, group problem-solving, and participatory decision-making within the context of developing programs and policies to enhance the quality of working life. A workshop help for nurse managers focused on the potential for using these groups to achieve specific, prioritized goals. To study the ecology of work/nonwork life, we obtained data from workshop participants on both their work and nonwork social networks. We found these to be almost totally segmented. Personal, organizational, and sociocultural variables that may account for this pattern are examined. Implications are also discussed for developing support programs and for empowering nursing as a profession.