Objective: This article describes span of control (SOC) and organizational support for nurse managers (NMs) and impact on performance outcomes. Background: NMs report excessive workloads that negatively affect personal well-being and performance outcomes. Understanding NM SOC is essential for informing strategies to enhance performance outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between NM SOC, organizational support, and performance outcomes. Results: Data from 255 NMs, overseeing 296 units across 47 hospitals, showed nurse turnover was significantly correlated with NM to full-time equivalent (FTE) and NM-to-bed ratios. Higher fall rates were associated with higher 24-hour census and NM-to-bed ratio. No significant associations were found between SOC and hospital-acquired pressure injuries. Conclusions: Wide variations in SOC and organizational support were noted among this sample. Findings from this study suggest that smaller units with smaller teams have an advantage in creating a better nurse workforce and clinical patient outcomes. Creating manageable NM workloads may yield better nurse and patient outcomes.
Warshawsky et al. (Mon,) studied this question.