Title: The introduction of modern matrons and the relevance of emotional labour to understanding their roles: developing personal authority in clinical leadership

Authors: Helen T. Allan, Pam Smith

Addresses: European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Duke of Kent Building, Stag Hill, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 5TE, UK. ' European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Duke of Kent Building, Stag Hill, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 5TE, UK

Abstract: This paper discusses the findings from case studies of six modern matrons and their emerging role in four local NHS Trusts in the South East of England. The studies develop previous work by the authors which explores the emotional component of leadership in nursing. In this study, we have focused on the role of modern matrons and leadership to re-examine the relevance of emotional labour in the context of the reform of the NHS. The data from the case studies involved focus groups and individual semi-structured interviews. These interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim by the researchers and analysed using thematic and narrative analysis. We suggest that the themes arising from these interviews contribute to the development of working hypotheses to increase understanding of the modern matron|s role and newly emerging positions of nursing authority. These hypotheses suggest that the modern matron may choose from a range of approaches to respond to demands made upon her. The approaches proposed in this paper include emotion management, patient liaison, clinical leadership and nursing management. We suggest that these approaches allow the modern matron to use personal authority to provide clinical leadership to manage relationships intra- and inter-professionally and provide the interface between the organisation, the professions and the patient.

Keywords: emotional labour; nursing leadership; modern matrons; personal authority; NHS Trusts; UK National Health Service; NHS reform; emotion management; patient liaison; clinical leadership; nursing management; healthcare management; relationship management; organisational emotion; workplace emotion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2005.007324

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2005 Vol.1 No.1, pp.20 - 34

Published online: 05 Jul 2005 *

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