ABSTRACT

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Background: According to previous studies, variable percent of nurses suffer from psychological problems or disorders. Mental health promotion requires identifying its relevant factors in order to promote effective factors and eliminate the negative factors. Purpose of present study was to determine the relationship between motivational function of headnurses and mental health of nurses in teaching hospitals of Qom.

Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 275 nurses were selected from 3 teaching hospitals in Qom based on convenience sampling method. Data collection tools were a researcher-made questionnaire for assessment of motivational functional of headnurses and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) based on the Likert scale and cut-of point of 32.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and correlation analysis (Pearson’s correlation) in SPSS v.16.

Results: The findings indicated that 45.1% of nurses are mentally healthy and 54.9% of nurses are susceptible to psychological problems. Motivational function of headnurses was good and weak in 37.7% and 19.5% of cases, respectively. Also, there was reverse but not statistically significant correlation between psychological problems of nurses and quality of performance incentive plan of headnurses (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Motivational role of headnurses is essential but not adequate for nurses' mental health. Thus hospital managers and national health care system support is necessary for effective planning in order to prevention of psychological problems, periodic psychological examinations and treatment of psychological disorders of nurses.

Keywords: Motivational Function, Mental Health, HeadNurse, Nurse