Characteristics of Networks in Nursing Units

Studies on the networks in organizations using social network analysis method include the study on informal networksinorganizations8, the study of social network analysis approach to the effects of diversity and performance within a team9, the study on the effect of department centralization on job stress factors and job satisfaction in organizational network10, the study on informal network analysis of touring lifelong education teachers11, and the study on the perception of communication network and organizational atmosphere for US police organizations12. In this study, the density of the general units was 0.06-0.41, the emergency room was 0.26-0.37, the intensive care units was 0.19- 0.40, and the operating room was 0.05-0.41.Comparing with the density of other organizations, the density of the communication network was 0.44-0.69 and the density of the advice network was 0.20-0.38 in van Beek et al's16 study of nursing homes and residential homes in 35 nursing units and 474 nurses. In the study, while the social network characteristics of nursing units showed no difference according to gender, age, nursing unit type, more than 5 years of experience in the current department was linked to higher degree centrality and closeness centrality, and degree centrality of three shift workers was higher than that of fixed workers. Van Beek A PA, Wagner C, Spreeuwenberg P PM, Frijters D HM, Ribbe M W, Groenewegen P P, Communication, Advice Exchange and Job Satisfaction of Nursing Staff: A Social Network Analyses of 35 Long-term Care Units.