Abstract—The aim of this study is to compare the innovativeness, risk taking, and focusing on opportunity of the nurse managers and nurses. The data are collected from nurse managers and nurses in Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Medicine Hospital and Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine Hospital. The study sample consisted of 151 participants, 76 nurse managers (50.3%) and 75 nurses (49.7%). All participants have been assessed by Participant Information Form and Corporate Entrepreneurship Scale. In data analysis, independent t-test has applied. The results show that there are significant differences between nurse managers and nurses on innovativeness (t = 2.42, p < 0.05), risk taking (t = 3.62, p < 0.01), and focusing on opportunity (t = 2.16, p < 0.05). Consequently, it can be said that nurse managers have more innovativeness than nurses and tend to take more risks and focus more on opportunities. Keywords—Focusing on Opportunity Attitudes, Innovativeness, Risk Taking, Nurse. I. INTRODUCTION EALTH services are perceived to be more important than many other services because of their significance in human life. Naturally, health service workers have an indispensable role and responsibility in these services. The effectiveness and efficiency of nursing services that comprise the majority of health service workforce seem to be related to the effectiveness of nursing management. Responsible for the planning, organization, supervision, and evaluation of nursing services, nurse managers have a strategic position [1]. Nurse managers have a role in change management, staff behavior management, and goal setting in health services. To be able to follow and apply innovations, identify changing needs, and initiate change, nurse managers need some characteristics [2, 3] that include innovativeness, risk taking, perceiving problems as opportunities, being opportunity oriented, initiating change, and entrepreneurship. M. K. is with Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, 55139 TURKEY (corresponding author to provide phone: 903623121919; fax: 903624576078; e-mail: mlkalkan@superonline.com). H. O. is with Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, TURKEY. (e-mail: haticeodaci@ktu.edu.tr). H. E. K. is with Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, 55139 TURKEY (e- mail: eplikoc@hotmail.com). ∗ This study was presented at the 4 th International Nursing Management Conference, Turkey, Belek, October 13-15, 2008. Innovativeness is one of the most important characteristics of entrepreneurs [4, 5, 6]. Although the concepts of creativity and innovativeness are mostly used together, they are not the same thing. The difference between them is embodied in the difference between thinking of doing something and actually doing it. In this context, creativity may be defined as spending mental energy on new things, whereas innovativeness is doing and applying new things [7]. In innovativeness, new thoughts are used to produce new resources and to satisfy needs [8]. Emerging with change and improvement, innovativeness is closely related to mental processes, such as problem solving, constructive thinking, or invention [9]. “Initiating change” means offering people innovation with new thoughts, new methods, and new tools. Innovation behavior is the practical application of new ideas in an effective manner and in conjunction with the objectives of a health organization [10]. However, not every new innovation ends in success; sometimes, new things lead to problems. In this case, risk taking is the prerequisite for innovativeness [11]. Results of studies on the topic show that risk-taking individuals have higher entrepreneurship and leadership qualities [12, 13]. Risk taking is a necessary element for the desire to produce something and the success of individuals [14]. Seen from this perspective, it is important that a nurse manager who uses initiative within the organization encourages other employees to do the same, supports their decisions, and encourages them. In such an environment, individuals can openly and freely share their thoughts about how to improve things, develop creative solutions, be proactive, and take steps. At the same time, the ability to take risks is thought to make them more successful at seizing opportunities. Although risk taking and focusing on opportunities may seem different, they are actually known to be related. Focusing constantly on opportunities may sometimes force entrepreneur managers to take calculated risks. However, not all innovations result in success; they may even lead to worse situations sometimes. In these circumstances, taking risks to some extent and seizing opportunities are almost like a prerequisite for innovativeness [15]. Employees with innovativeness, risk taking and focus on opportunities play a critical role in the change and development of organizations. Managers with these qualities are important to both private companies and public Innovativeness, Risk Taking, Focusing on Opportunity Attitudes on Nurse Managers and Nurses ∗ Melek Kalkan, Hatice Odacı, and Hatice Epli Koç H World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Economics and Management Engineering Vol:4, No:7, 2010 1655 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 4(7) 2010 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/1236 International Science Index, Economics and Management Engineering Vol:4, No:7, 2010 waset.org/Publication/1236