Deans of nursing: pathways to the deanship

The purpose of this study was to describe dean's perspectives on the life/career relationships and experiences which were significant in their pathways to their first nursing deanship. A developmental model guided this inquiry and was used to explain the development of these women's personal and professional identity.

The study design was naturalistic. Data were collected by survey, life history interviews, and through document search of curriculum vitae. Field notes were recorded throughout the data collection period. Data were analyzed using Spradley's (1979) ethnographic analysis techniques consisting of domains, taxonomies, components, and themes.

The study yielded the following themes: (1) a strong valuing by the participants of (a) education and (b) achievement; (2) a pattern of female-female relationships which provided the deans with role modeling of important leadership behaviors, support, encouragement, and information for making educational and career choices; (3) a pattern of early leadership behavior which included an enjoyment of/or a desire to be in charge.

Conclusions of the study were: (1) the Erikson-Levinson model was generally descriptive of the women studied; (2) people and relationships were extremely important in the lives and the careers of the women studied; (3) the early socialization experiences and relationships of these women contributed to the development of leadership behaviors and positive ego development; (4) through the supportive relationships of their husbands and their own organizational abilities, the married deans were able to accomplish their career goals; (5) through early family and educational experiences and relationships, in this study developed strong values related to the importance of achievement and education.