Role and application of self‐awareness in managerial practice: A qualitative study of nurse managers

Aims To explore the nurse managers' perspectives about the role and application of self-awareness in managerial practice. Background Effectively accomplishing complex roles and maintaining a healthy work environment requires nurse managers to be resilient and sustain positive relationships with nurses and interdisciplinary teams. Self-awareness is an essential attribute for building relationships and creating a healthier work environment. Methods A descriptive qualitative design was used. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of ten managers working in two tertiary hospitals. Reflexive thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Results Four themes were generated: “maximizing potential for overseeing complex management issues; becoming a conscientious and thoughtful manager; using experiential learning for nurturing managerial capabilities; and utilizing self and others’ appraisal for discerning practical managerial approaches”. Conclusions Implementing self-awareness in complex situations is beneficial for nurse managers. It allows them to overcome negative emotions and factors and incorporate ethical and moral reasoning, thereby preventing them from ineffectual management. Implications for Nursing Management Nurse managers should focus on assessing their temperaments and managerial abilities in each complex situation. They should use experiential learning from past experiences for discerning effective actions for managing complex situations.