Closing the Gap: Measuring Nurse Mangers’ Knowledge and Skills of Management by Walking Around (MBWA) after a Targeted Training Program.

Abstract

Background: The method known as "management by walking around" (MBWA) highlightsknowledge, open assessment, and human relations—all of which are critical for producing highqualitywork. The management style used by the nurse manager has a significant impact on the jobgratification of nurses. It also encourages and engages staff to actively seek personal, team, andorganizational goals while promoting a more informal work environment .This research aimed toinvestigate the impact of training program about management by walking around for nurse managerson their knowledge and skills. Study design: In this work, a quasi-experimental research design wasemployed. Setting: El-Qabbary and Shark ELmadina Hospitals, which are affiliated with theAlexandria Governorate's Ministry of Health and Population, served as the study's locations. Subjects:All Nurse Managers in both settings (N=16). Tools of data collection: Two instruments wereemployed to gather the data. The initial instrument was the nurse manager’s knowledge aboutManagement by Walking Around questionnaire. The second tool was nurse managers' practice ofManagement by Walking Around an observational scale. Results: there is a positive statisticallysignificant difference between the MBWA knowledge, and practice levels for nurse managers in thethree periods; before, immediately after, and three months from the implementation of the trainingprogram in the studied units. Nurse managers who attended the training program exhibited a higherlevel of knowledge and practice of MBWA technique after the program than before. Conclusion:There is a significant positive increase in the nurse managers’ knowledge and practice regardingMBWA after the training program with a large effect size of the training. Recommendations:Incorporate MBWA as a regular part of the nurse manager's daily routine rather than a sporadicactivity, ensuring its seamless integration into the managerial approach.