Work Empowerment and Job Satisfaction Among Nurses At Zagazig University Hospitals

Author

Department of Nursing administration Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University

Abstract

Today, nurses work empowerment and job satisfaction are vital to manage hospital changes effectively. Nurse manager must understand the social processes that affect empowerment and satisfaction to be sure that patient care and changes in nursing delivery system are implemented successfully. Since current restructuring strategies represent a continuous change in hospitals, so empowered and satisfied nurses can be an important factor for the acceptance of change, and increase productivity.  The aim of this study was to investigate the level of work empowerment and level of job satisfaction among nurses, and explore the relationship between staff nurses’ perception of work empowerment and their job satisfaction. The study was conducted in all medical and surgical units at Zagazig university hospitals. The sample included all staff nurses (270) working in the above mentioned setting, with at least one year experience in the present job. Tow tools were used for data collection, namely a questionnaire, the conditions for work effectiveness scale to determine staff nurses perception of empowerment, and a job satisfaction scale. The results revealed that about one half of the nurses in the study sample had effective conditions of work, and were empowered.  Formal power was higher than informal power.  Only about one third of the nurses were satisfied with their job, with the lowest satisfaction with promotion at work and salaries and incentives.  Work department and the score of condition of work effectiveness were independent predictors of job satisfaction score. It is recommended that nurses be aware of and able to empower themselves through formal and informal education sessions, with provision of appropriate updated educational resources at work, and improvement of salaries and incentives.