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The purpose of this paper is to investigate how clinicians’ professional background influences their transition into the managerial role and identity as clinical managers.

The authors interviewed and observed 30 clinicians in managerial positions in Norwegian hospitals.

A central finding was that doctors experienced difficulties in reconciling the role as health professional with the role as manager. They maintained a health professional identity and reported to find meaning and satisfaction from clinical work. Doctors also emphasized clinical work as a way of gaining legitimacy and respect from medical colleagues. Nurses recounted a faster and more positive transition into the manager role, and were more fully engaged in the managerial aspects of the role.

The authors advance that health care organizations need to focus on role, identity and need satisfaction when recruiting and developing clinicians to become clinical managers.

The study suggests that the inclusion of aspects from identity and need satisfaction literature expands on and enriches the study of clinical managers.