Nurses’ Working Methods in Portuguese Hospitals: Nurse Managers’ Perspectives

Background The nurse manager ensures the safety and quality of care, promoting the organization of work, through defining the working methods. Aim To understand the perspectives of nurse managers on the organization and implementation of nursing work methods in hospital settings. Methods A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in a hospital in Portugal to explore how nurse managers perceive and experience nursing work methods in their daily practice. A total of 29 nurses with managerial roles participated in semistructured interviews between October and November 2023. Data were analyzed using content analysis, supported by the software Atlas.ti®. Results Three themes emerged: the nurse manager’s conception of working methods, highlighting work organization strategies and strategies to ensure social visibility; working methods identified in the clinical context, namely, the traditional ones and those in use by nurses; factors that contribute to the selection of working methods, related to structure, process, and outcome. Conclusions This study highlights that nurse managers recognize the nursing competency mix as a strategy for promoting safe and efficient care. Structural conditions, care processes, and outcomes directly influence the choice and effectiveness of work methods. In the Portuguese hospital context, these results offer valuable information to support nursing governance, optimize care delivery, and enhance the visibility and recognition of nursing practice.