Relationship Between Workplace Support Toward Certified Nurses and Work Engagement

Abstract

【Objective】This study sought to clarify the relationship between support that certified nurses (CNs) receive from their workplaces and supervisors, and work engagement (WE).

【Methods】We used stratified sampling to select 1,000 CNs in Japan. Participants worked in six nursing fields: emergency, skin excretion, intensive, palliative, cancer chemotherapy, and dementia. Questionnaire items included the "scale of workplace support for nurses," which indicated supervisors' support. This item was created based on previous studies that indicated support for CNs' activities. Additionally, an item excerpted from the "New Occupational Stress Simple Questionnaire" that indicated support for CNs outside of their CN activities was included. We used the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale to measure WE.

【Results】After eliminating invalid addresses, 971 CNs received our research request forms. We analyzed 323 out of 334 CNs who responded (response rate, 33.3%). The mean nursing and CN experiences were 21.5±6.4 and 7.6±4.4 years, respectively. The mean WE score was 3.4±1.1 points. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis with total WE scores and support from workplaces and supervisors revealed significant relationships for "percentage of self-identified activities" (β = 0.236, p < .01), "alignment of organization and CN intentions" (β = 0.186, p < .01), and "evaluative support" (β = 0.349, p < .01).

【Discussion】These data indicate that WE was higher when there was a greater proportion of CN activities, intentions between CNs and their workplace were aligned, and evaluative support was available.