Abstract
This paper discusses the findings from case studies of six modern matrons and their emerging role in four local NHS Trusts in the South East of England. The studies develop previous work by the authors which explores the emotional component of leadership in nursing. In this study, we have focused on the role of modern matrons and leadership to re-examine the relevance of emotional labour in the context of the reform of the NHS. The data from the case studies involved focus groups and individual semi-structured interviews. These interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim by the researchers and analysed using thematic and narrative analysis. We suggest that the themes arising from these interviews contribute to the development of working hypotheses to increase understanding of the modern matron's role and newly emerging positions of nursing authority. These hypotheses suggest that the modern matron may choose from a range of approaches to respond to demands made upon her. The approaches proposed in this paper include emotion management, patient liaison, clinical leadership and nursing management. We suggest that these approaches allow the modern matron to use personal authority to provide clinical leadership to manage relationships intra- and inter-professionally and provide the interface between the organisation, the professions and the patient. Copyright © 2005 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.