The effects of structural and psychological empowerment on perceived respect in acute care nurses

J Nurs Manag. 2008 Mar;16(2):214-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2007.00781.x.

Abstract

Background: The recruitment and retention crisis has catalyzed interest in workplace empowerment for nurses. Many nurses feel that they do not receive the respect they deserve in hospital settings; however, there are few systematic studies of respect for nurses.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between structural and psychological empowerment and their effects on hospital nurses' perceptions of respect.

Method: A secondary analysis was conducted of data from a larger study of 500 randomly selected hospital staff nurses. A predictive, non-experimental survey design was used to test a hypothesized model derived from Kanter's Work Empowerment Theory.

Results: Both structural and psychological variables were significant independent predictors of respect, although structural empowerment had considerably greater explanatory power.

Conclusions: The findings support Kanter's theory. Hospital nurses who perceive themselves to be structurally and psychologically empowered are more likely to feel respected in the workplace.

Implications for nursing management: Changing workplace structures is within the mandate of nurse managers in their roles as advocates for and facilitators of high-quality care. Nurse managers have the influence and resources to facilitate empowering work conditions that can increase nurses' feelings of being respected. In addition, promoting collaborative inter-professional and intra-professional relationships and assuring continuous support to nurses are particularly important strategies for building respect.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Attitude to Health
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Relations*
  • Male
  • Models, Nursing
  • Models, Psychological
  • Nurse Administrators / organization & administration
  • Nurse Administrators / psychology
  • Nurse's Role / psychology
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / organization & administration
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology*
  • Power, Psychological*
  • Professional Autonomy
  • Self Efficacy
  • Social Perception*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workplace / organization & administration
  • Workplace / psychology*