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"Trust, Responsibility, and Making a Difference": Qualitative Insights into Why First-Line Managers in Healthcare Remain in Their Role.

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Title: "Trust, Responsibility, and Making a Difference": Qualitative Insights into Why First-Line Managers in Healthcare Remain in Their Role.
Authors: Svanström, Jonas1 Jonas.svanstrom@hig.se, Lindberg, Magnus1, Skytt, Bernice1,2, Lindberg, Maria1,3
Source: Inquiry (00469580). 8/21/2025, Vol. 62, p1-9. 9p.
Subject Terms: *Occupational roles, *Qualitative research, *Autonomy (Psychology), *Content analysis, *Confidence, *Decision making, *Research methodology, *Employees' workload, Employee retention, Research funding, Personnel management, Responsibility, Interviewing, Leadership, Psychological well-being, Patient care, Thematic analysis, Trust, Frontline personnel, Attitudes of medical personnel, Social support, Commitment (Psychology)
Geographic Terms: Sweden
Abstract: Healthcare organizations face increasing challenges in retaining first-line managers, who play a key role in operational stability and patient care. Studies indicate that approximately half of all first-line managers intend to leave their position within 5 years. This highlights the need for updated knowledge about conditions under which they work. A qualitative descriptive design was used to explore first-line managers' perceptions of what is important for them to remain in the managerial role. Data were collected through 20 individual semi-structured interviews with first-line managers from a medium-sized healthcare organization in Sweden between March and June 2022. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results are presented through the overarching theme Empowered through support, responsibility, and meaningful contribution. This theme describes how first-line managers sustain their motivation and commitment by developing confidence in their ability to lead, influence others, and create meaningful change. Their confidence is grounded in support, responsibility, and role clarity. The theme also shows how first-line managers handle challenges, make decisions, and act to improve staff well-being and patient care. Through these actions, they contribute to the development of their units. Trust from their manager, autonomy in decision-making, and support from colleagues enhance first-line managers' sense of purpose and motivation, encouraging them to remain in their role. Moreover, balanced workloads and opportunities to make a meaningful impact strengthen their commitment. By recognizing and addressing these aspects, healthcare organizations can better support long-term engagement of first-line managers, fostering sustainable leadership and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Inquiry (00469580) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: "Trust, Responsibility, and Making a Difference": Qualitative Insights into Why First-Line Managers in Healthcare Remain in Their Role.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Inquiry+%2800469580%29%22">Inquiry (00469580)</searchLink>. 8/21/2025, Vol. 62, p1-9. 9p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupational+roles%22">Occupational roles</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autonomy+%28Psychology%29%22">Autonomy (Psychology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Content+analysis%22">Content analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Confidence%22">Confidence</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+making%22">Decision making</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employees'+workload%22">Employees' workload</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employee+retention%22">Employee retention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Personnel+management%22">Personnel management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Responsibility%22">Responsibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership%22">Leadership</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+well-being%22">Psychological well-being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+care%22">Patient care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trust%22">Trust</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Frontline+personnel%22">Frontline personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes+of+medical+personnel%22">Attitudes of medical personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Commitment+%28Psychology%29%22">Commitment (Psychology)</searchLink>
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  Data: Healthcare organizations face increasing challenges in retaining first-line managers, who play a key role in operational stability and patient care. Studies indicate that approximately half of all first-line managers intend to leave their position within 5 years. This highlights the need for updated knowledge about conditions under which they work. A qualitative descriptive design was used to explore first-line managers' perceptions of what is important for them to remain in the managerial role. Data were collected through 20 individual semi-structured interviews with first-line managers from a medium-sized healthcare organization in Sweden between March and June 2022. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results are presented through the overarching theme Empowered through support, responsibility, and meaningful contribution. This theme describes how first-line managers sustain their motivation and commitment by developing confidence in their ability to lead, influence others, and create meaningful change. Their confidence is grounded in support, responsibility, and role clarity. The theme also shows how first-line managers handle challenges, make decisions, and act to improve staff well-being and patient care. Through these actions, they contribute to the development of their units. Trust from their manager, autonomy in decision-making, and support from colleagues enhance first-line managers' sense of purpose and motivation, encouraging them to remain in their role. Moreover, balanced workloads and opportunities to make a meaningful impact strengthen their commitment. By recognizing and addressing these aspects, healthcare organizations can better support long-term engagement of first-line managers, fostering sustainable leadership and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Inquiry (00469580) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=187508323
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        Value: 10.1177/00469580251368724
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Occupational roles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autonomy (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Content analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Confidence
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      – SubjectFull: Decision making
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      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employees' workload
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      – SubjectFull: Employee retention
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      – SubjectFull: Research funding
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      – SubjectFull: Personnel management
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      – SubjectFull: Responsibility
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      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
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      – SubjectFull: Leadership
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      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
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      – SubjectFull: Patient care
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      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Trust
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      – SubjectFull: Frontline personnel
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      – SubjectFull: Attitudes of medical personnel
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      – SubjectFull: Social support
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      – SubjectFull: Commitment (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Sweden
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      – TitleFull: "Trust, Responsibility, and Making a Difference": Qualitative Insights into Why First-Line Managers in Healthcare Remain in Their Role.
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              Text: 8/21/2025
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