Final answer:
Reducing the number of middle-level nurse managers in hospitals can impact the creation of institutional goals and strategic plans, which may result in disruptions in nursing care and potentially decreased quality of patient services.
Step-by-step explanation:
When economic conditions are tight, a hospital may reduce the number of middle-level nurse managers. These managers often have the responsibility of creating institutional goals and strategic plans for their departments or units within the hospital. While it is often higher-level executives who devise overarching strategic plans for the entire institution, middle-level managers are crucial in tailoring these plans to their specific areas, ensuring alignment with the larger organizational vision, and overseeing their implementation.
When middle-level nurse managers are reduced, it can lead to disruptions in nursing care. These nurse managers play a pivotal role in maintaining the quality of care by ensuring efficient resource allocation, implementing patient care standards, and managing nursing staff. Their absence can cause a gap in leadership, potentially leading to a decrease in the quality of patient care and the effectiveness of nursing services.