A national survey of deans and directors of schools of nursing (n=434) was conducted to determine their opinions about the differing research foci that graduates of nursing doctoral programs should possess. They recommended diverse research foci for current and future researchers and indicated optimism about future funding. (Author/JOW)

Six deans of top-rated graduate nursing schools stressed the importance of leaders taking different perspectives. Current roles emphasized directing, sensing, and negotiating; in the future, consensus building, risk taking, and interactive empowerment would be more important. (SK)

The process of becoming and functioning as a dean is examined in the context of a mentor relationship, focusing on the benefits and risks of such a relationship and on techniques of developing it successfully. (MSE)

According to a survey of 37 middle managers in nursing schools, 57% did not view their position as a step to deanship; 62% did not aspire to deanship, largely because of family responsibilities; powerlessness or job satisfaction did not influence this decision; and the lowest degree of job satisfaction was related to parking and to the leadership…

Responses from 44 deans (32%) and 212 faculty (60%) in nursing schools showed that most changes were initiated with greater frequency in the first year of a new dean's position. Sensitive interpersonal changes related directly to faculty were accepted less favorably than all other types of changes. (SK)

The two existing types of academic nursing administrator preparation programs are described and discussed. A third type emphasizing deliberative decision-making is proposed and outlined. (MSE)

The need for and importance of effective leadership in nursing education mandates that individual and institutional efforts be committed to reducing role ambiguity, conflict, and overload in the position of assistant dean, whose role is subject to multiple demands and involved with multiple administrative subsystems. (Author/MSE)

A survey of 220 nursing school deans and 749 seniors revealed that most schools do not lack qualified applicants or have enrollment problems. Most admit second degree students, and some have programs for them. Most do special recruiting from racial and ethnic groups and inner-city or rural areas. (MSE)

Four factors important to all faculty (security, a sense of ownership and pride in the institution, and intellectual vitality), strategies for dealing with the three major tenured faculty groups (prima donnas, solid citizens, and deadwood), and trends mandating that institutions help faculty reexamine their careers are discussed. (MSE)

A study of nursing school faculty job satisfaction and perceptions of organizational climate found that deans' behavior influenced those perceptions and that the longer a faculty member remained in his or her position at the same school, the less satisfied he or she was with the work, promotional opportunities, supervision, and fellow workers.…