RESUMO
A random sample of 175 and 167 nurses was selected from one university hospital and one Ministry of Health Hospital, respectively. Data were collected by the work empowerment factors scale [WEFS]. Factor analysis revealed six meaningful work empowerment factors represented in 45 items including [1] organizational effectiveness, [2] leadership, [3] work incentives, [4] work relationships, [5] nature of work and [6] personal conduct. Nurses showed low to moderate degrees of satisfaction in relation to factors No. 1, 2 and 3 showing a significant difference in the degree of satisfaction between nurses of the two studied hospitals. All nurses showed a moderate degree of satisfaction with items 4 and 5. However, the university hospital nurses showed a high degree of satisfaction with item 6, while the Ministry of Health nurses showed a moderate degree of satisfaction. No significant difference was found between the two studied groups of nurses in relation to factors 4, 5 and 6