ABSTRACT
AIMS: This study examined the influence of new graduate nurses' personal resources (psychological capital) and access to structural resources (empowerment and staffing) on their job satisfaction. BACKGROUND: Reports suggest that new graduate nurses are experiencing stressful work environments, low job satisfaction, and high turnover intentions. These nurses are a health human resource that must be retained for the replacement of retiring nurses, and to address impending shortages. Supportive workplaces that promote new graduate nurses' job satisfaction may play an important role in the retention of new nurses. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data from a larger study of new graduate nurses was conducted. Data collection was completed using self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the hypothesised model. RESULTS: Psychological capital, structural empowerment and perceived staffing adequacy were significant independent predictors of job satisfaction. The final model explained 38% of the variance in job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Both personal and structural workplace factors are important to new graduate nurses' job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Managers should ensure empowerment structures are in place to support new graduate nurses' job satisfaction. Orientation processes and ongoing management support to build psychological capital in new graduate nurses will help create positive perceptions of the workplace, enhancing job satisfaction.
Subject(s)
Burnout, Professional/etiology , Job Satisfaction , Nurses/psychology , Personnel Staffing and Scheduling/standards , Resilience, Psychological , Workplace/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Personnel Turnover , Power, Psychological , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
AIM: To examine the influence of senior nurse leadership practices on middle and first-line nurse managers' experiences of empowerment and organizational support and ultimately on their perceptions of patient care quality and turnover intentions. BACKGROUND: Empowering leadership has played an important role in staff nurse retention but there is limited research to explain the mechanisms by which leadership influences nurse managers' turnover intentions. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of data collected using non-experimental, predictive mailed survey design. Data from 231 middle and 788 first-line Canadian acute care managers was used to test the hypothesized model using path analysis in each group. RESULTS: The results showed an adequate fit of the hypothesized model in both groups but with an added path between leadership practices and support in the middle line group. CONCLUSIONS: Transformational leadership practices of senior nurses empower middle- and first-line nurse managers, leading to increased perceptions of organizational support, quality care and decreased intent to leave. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Empowered nurse managers at all levels who feel supported by their organizations are more likely to stay in their roles, remain committed to achieving quality patient care and act as influential role models for potential future leaders.
