Abstract

Advanced midwives are expected to be candidates for middle managers in the next generation. Higher levels of management skills than the current levels may be required for middle managers in the future due to the progress of perinatal medicine. The aim of this study was to compare levels of management skills that are currently required for middle managers and levels of management skills that will be important in the next 10-20 years in advanced midwives. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted for 1652 advanced midwives in hospitals that have more than 300 beds in Japan. The scores for all management skills that will be required in the next generation were significantly higher than those for currently required management skills. Currently required management skills that were given high scores, including communication ability, ability to perform safety management and problem-solving ability, were also given high scores for middle managers in the next generation. Advanced midwives believed that management skills including the ability to participate in social activity, ability to use information and communication technology, and ability to participate in management in which these scores are low at present are needed for middle managers in the next generation. Advanced midwives consider that management skills for middle managers will change in the future. By acquisition of high levels of management skills, middle managers will be able to perform management of perinatal medicine and nursing.

Key words: Advanced midwives, nursing middle managers, next generation, management skills.