MANAGING PERSONNEL SERVICES IN A MISSION HOSPITAL: A STUDY OF BISHOP SHANAHAN HOSPITAL, NSUKKA IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE

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ABSTRACT

This research is intended to examine the personnel management in the Mission Hospitals.  Bishop Shanahan Hospital has been chosen for this study because of its long existence and experience pervading the good old days and the present hard times.  The research involved a survey in which questionnaire and interviews were used, and this served as the primary and source of data.  Samples were taken from Nsukka Urban Area.  Deliberate selection of samples was adopted so as to reduce the time and cost in shuttling between Enugu and Nsukka for the purpose of the survey, and the sample size was 41.  Extensive review of related literature was carried out, making reference to magazines, dailies, journals, hospital publications, and this served as secondary data source.  The nature of personnel management, its problems, shortcomings and prospects were evaluated in respect of Bishop Shanahan Hospital.  Precisely, some aspects of the personnel services such as relationship with other sections, motivation/job satisfaction, decision-making, procedures and regulations, employment style, industrial relations, training and promotion of staff were inquired into.  Also, a brief inquiry into the use of computer was done.  Descriptive statistics was employed in the analysis of data throughout the research.  Suggestions and recommendations were offered based on the findings.  Such recommendations bordering on personnel policy, industrial relations, manpower planning, performance evaluation, job descriptions and job specifications, motivation, computerization and public relations were briefly treated.  A master of finding from the study is that lack of funds rather than personnel management hinders the effective operations of the hospital.  And this has affected payment of salaries, attraction of specialists, training and re-training of staff as and when due.  However, there are possible prospects for improvement if the economy can improve.  It is therefore, in the light of the above that the researcher recommends thus: prompt payment of workers salaries, training and re-training of staff for effective discharge of their duties which will eventually lead to efficient result, initiating good policies which include: employment policy, welfare policy, health and safety policy, industrial relations policy.

LIST OF TABLES

Table I:           Distribution of Respondents according to Sex (Question 1)          

Table II:         Distribution of Respondents according to Age

(Question 1)  ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

Table III:        Distribution of Respondents according to Sex (Question 1)         

Table IV:        Classification of Respondents by Occupation (Question 4)       

Table V:         Distribution of Rank/Position of Respondents (Question 5)        

Table VI:        Distribution of Educational Attainment Levels of

Respondents (Question 6)  ..         

Table VII:      Relationship of Respondents with Bishop Shanahan

Hospital Nsukka       ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table VIII:     Distribution of period of Association of Non-staff with the

Hospital (Question 8)          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XIX:     Classification of the Respondents                         ..                      ..          ..         

Table X:         Distribution of Staff Respondents according to their

length of services (Question 10)   ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XI:        Distribution of level of Job Satisfaction among 11

staff of the Hospital (Question 11)                       ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XII:      Distribution of 11 Staff in relation to their

Membership of Management Team           ..          ..          ..          ..         

Table XIV:     Distribution of criteria for decision making at the Hospital

(Question 14) ..         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XV:      Distribution of views on the existence of an established

Manual of Procedures and Regulations (Question 15) ..          ..

Table XVI:     Distribution of views on whether the Hospital has an

established Personnel Department (Question 16) ..       ..          ..         

Table XVII:   Distribution of views on respondents on the functional

relationship (Question 16) ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XVIII:  Distribution of views on manner of selection/employment

(Question 18) ..         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XIX:     Kinds of training as observed by the respondents

(Question 19) ..         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XX:      Distribution of views on whether the hospital has written

conditions of service or not (Question 20) ..       ..          ..          ..         

Table XXI:     Distribution of views on regularity of promotion of staff

(Question 21) ..         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XXII:   Distribution of responses regarding the existence of an

organized Union at the hospital (Question 22) ..            ..          ..          ..

Table XXIII:  Distribution of views concerning strike or industrial action

in the hospital (Question 23) ..      ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

Table XXIV:  Distribution of views on whether the hospital uses a

computer (Question 24)..    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

Table XXV:   Distribution of views of respondents on the hospital’s type

of service (Question 27)..   ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page     ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

Certification  ..     ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

Dedication     ..         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

Acknowledgments   ..        ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

Abstract    .          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

List of Tables             ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

Table of Contents         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction  ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

1.1       Background of the Study    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

  1. Statement of the Problem    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  2. Objectives of the Study       ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  3. Research Questions ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  4. Significance of the Study    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  5. Scope of the Study   ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  6. Limitations of the Study     ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  7. Definition of Terms ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

References    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       Review of Related Literature         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

2.1       Meaning of Management    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

  • Meaning of Personnel Management          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  • Development of Personnel Management ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  • Importance of Personnel Management     ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  • The Role of Personnel Manager    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  • Functions of Personnel Department          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..
  • Summary of the Related Literature           ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

References    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       Research Methodology       ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

3.1       Research Method                 ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

3.2       Sources of Data        ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

3.2.1   Primary Data ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

3.2.2   Secondary Data        ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

3.3       Population of the Study      ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

3.4       Sample Size Determination            ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

3.5       Research Instrument            ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..         

3.6       Method of Validating the Instrument        ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

3.7       Methods of Data Analyses ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

References    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0       Data Presentation, Analyses and Interpretation  ..          ..          ..          ..

4.1       Response Ratio         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

4.2       Characteristics of Respondents     ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

4.3       Relationship of Respondents with Bishop Shanahan Hospital

Nsukka           ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

4.4       General Management in Brief        ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

4.5       Evaluation of the Hospitals Personnel Area        ..          ..          ..          ..

4.6       Use of Computer      ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

4.7       Comparison of Bishop Shanahan Hospital with any General

Hospital (Question 26)        ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

4.8       Assessment of the Hospital Services        ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

  • Observed Shortcomings (Question 28)    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

4.10    Visible Problems (Question 29)    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

4.11    Recommendations by Respondents (Question 30)         ..          ..          ..

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0       Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations       ..          ..

5.1       Summary of Findings          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

5.2       Conclusion    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

5.3       Recommendations   ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

5.3       Areas of further Study         ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

BIBILOGRAPHY   ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..          ..

APPENDIXES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction

1.1       Background of the Study

            Before the advent of private hospitals, mission hospitals had existed side by side with few Government-owned hospitals otherwise known as General Hospitals.  Nowadays, however, almost all over Nigeria, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of hospital of various types and sizes.  This can be attributed to several reasons, one of which is probably the inability of the government-owned hospitals to effectively cope with the necessary healthcare services that are in high demand.  Good health is a prerequisite for every human being to carry on with any meaningful lively activity on earth (Kuti, 2000).

            As human beings or personnel are the most important resources needed to run every institution of organization much as a mission hospital, it becomes pertinent to enquire into their organization and management.  It is a known fact that mission hospitals have been established on humanitarian grounds rather than on profit making motives.  This being so, one may wonder how the personnel of such hospitals are managed with respect to the recruitment, training, industrial relations, promotion and motivation, for instance

Very often, mission hospitals are seen to be not only ill-equipped but also, poorly staffed.  Many of them think of the term administration instead of management, even though, some kind of personnel function is performed.  In any case, whether the term ‘administration’ or ‘management’ is used is not actually important. What is important is simply what the hospital does with its staff (Akunyili, 2002).

From the foregoing, it was considered necessary to research into the management of personnel at Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, because it has existed for over sixty years and it is expected to serve as a good model for the research in the area of mission hospitals.  A brief remark on the historical background of the hospital enables one to appreciate the peculiar situation of a typical mission hospital.

The hospital which is situated at Nsukka in Enugu State is recovered as one of the oldest hospitals in the eastern part of Nigeria.  It was said to have been established in 1940 under the auspices of the Catholic Church and is owned by the church under the Bishop.  This implies that the Bishop is at the highest echelon in the hospital’s organization chart.

Before Nsukka Diocese was carved out from Enugu Diocese in the Catholic Church, the hospital was under the Catholic Bishop of Enugu.  Presently, it is under the Bishop of Nsukka Diocese.  Information available shows that the administration and management of the hospital are still being shared by the Dioceses of Enugu, Nsukka and the religious congregation.  The reason is not far fetched.  It is simply because both Dioceses are within Enugu State (Mbadugha, 2001).

The available statistics as at 2003 showed that the hospital has 310 beds, 15 doctors, 85 nurses, and 150 non-medical and para-medical staff as well as 60 student nurses.  The current statistics has not yet reached the researcher.  The reader is advised to treat the above information in confidence since this research is for academic purpose.

In consideration of the traditionally expected humanitarian services of Mission hospitals, it is necessary that such hospitals should be encouraged.  In the opinion of the researcher, their personnel should be motivated towards improved contribution now that health care services have almost become unaffordable for most Nigerians.  This is a vital issue that motivated this research topic.

Statement of the Problem

MANAGING PERSONNEL SERVICES IN A MISSION HOSPITAL: A STUDY OF BISHOP SHANAHAN HOSPITAL, NSUKKA IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE