DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING A PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING POLARITIES IN A SELECTED HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION

Abstract Background: Managing polarities is an important element of any leadership development strategy as it fosters innovation and harmony and is important in healthcare settings due to system complexity and constraints, multigenerational teams, and the need for team efficiencies and resiliency. Polarities in teamwork arise when members hold opposing views on interdependent issues, such as when one team member wants to invite change while another prefers stability. Aim: This study aimed to design and validate proposed guidelines for managing polarities in a selected health care organization. Design: Descriptive methodological design was utilized in this study. Settings: The study was conducted at New Kasr El Aini teaching hospital which is affiliated to Cairo University Hospitals. Sample: A convenience sample of (30) nurse managers out of 70 who were working in the previously mentioned setting, and accepted to participate in the study Tools: Data was collected by using the following three tools; (1) personal characteristics data sheet, (2) polarity management awareness questionnaire: it consists of two parts; a): polarity management awareness questionnaire sheet; b): polarity map application record sheet: (3) Expertise’s Opinionnair sheet about the designed guidelines for managing polarities. Results: There were positive statistical significance relations between conceptual understanding and practical implementation of polarity management principles, that the data presented in the current study illustrate the strong positive correlations between the studied nurse managers and their levels of polarity management awareness and application. Conclusion: The study concluded that the data strongly indicates that the awareness sessions were highly effective not only in increasing theoretical awareness but also in developing the practical skill of applying the Polarity Map framework, Finally enhancing nurse manager’s awareness about polarity management contribute to effective use of polarity mapping in organizational and leadership practices. Recommendations: The study recommended offering and continuing education and training to polarity management awareness and application in the form of workshops and seminars, upgrading courses related to polarity management in Healthcare Organizations, and incorporate polarity management course in nursing administration curriculums at the faculties, and clinical institutes of nursing.