THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DESIRABLE LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF NURSING ADMINISTRATORS AND HAPPINESS AT WORK OF REGISTERED NURSES IN SRINAGARIND HOSPITAL

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to 1) study desirable leadership characteristics of nursing administrators as perceived by registered nurses in Srinagarind Hospital,  2) study happiness at work of registered nurses in Srinagarind Hospital and 3) study the relationship between desirable leadership characteristics of nursing administrators and happiness at work of registered nurses in Srinagarind Hospital. The samples were 203 registered nurses, who work at Srinagarind Hospital. Data collection was conducted from December 2022 - January 2023. Data were collected from 176 people, accounting for 86.70% of the total sample group. The research instruments were a questionnaire on the desirable leadership characteristics of nursing administrators and a questionnaire on the happiness at work of registered nurses. These instruments were verified by three experts. According to the reliability test, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient values of the questionnaire on the desirable leadership characteristics of nursing administrators and the questionnaire on the happiness at work of registered nurses were 0.93 and 0.95, respectively. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics; including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation coefficient statistics.

                 The results revealed that 1) the desirable leadership characteristics of nursing administrators as perceived by registered nurses in Srinagarind Hospital were at a high level (= 4.28, S.D.= 0.64). 2) The happiness at work of registered nurses in Srinagarind Hospital was at a high level ( = 3.94, S.D.=0.59). 3) There was a highly positive relationship between desirable leadership characteristics of nursing administrators and happiness at work of registered nurses in Srinagarind Hospital (r = 0.61). When considering each aspect, two aspects were at the highest level: practical qualification (r = 0.60) and general qualification (r = 0.58). Two aspects were ranked at a high level: cognitive qualification (r = 0.57) and specialty qualification (r = 0.57). The aspect with the lowest correlation was the affective qualification (r = 0.55). The results of this research can be used as basic information for administrators to plan human resource development to enhance the happiness at work of registered nurses in Srinagarind Hospital.