How nurses' job characteristics affect their self-assessed work environment in hospitals : Slovenian use of the practice environment scale of the nursing work index

Skela-Savič, Brigita (author), Sermeus, Walter (author), Dello, Simon (author), Squires, Allison (author), Bahun, Mateja (author), Lobe, Bojana (author)

Background Nurses’ work environment influences nursing practice. Inappropriate working conditions are the result of underdeveloped workplace infrastructure, poor work organisation, inadequate education, and inappropriate staffing norms. The aim of this study was to describe and examine the predictors that affect nurses’ work environment using the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI). Methods The validation of the PES-NWI was made. Nurse-reported job characteristics were used as independent variables. The sample included 1,010 nurses from adult surgical and medical units at 10 Slovenian hospitals. The Nurse Forecasting (RN4CAST) protocol was used. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the National Medical Ethics Committee. Results The PES-NWI mean (2.64) was low, as were job and career satisfaction at 2.96 and 2.89, respectively. The PES-NWI can be explained in 48% with ‘Opportunities for advancement’, ‘Educational opportunities’, ‘Satisfaction with current job’, ‘Professional status’, ‘Study leave’, and ‘Level of education’. A three-factor solution of PES-NWI yielded eight distinct variables. Conclusions The obtained average on the Nursing Work Index was one of the lowest among previously conducted surveys. Nurses should be recognized as equals in the healthcare workforce who need to be empowered to develop the profession and have career development opportunities. Inter-professional relations and equal involvement of nurses in hospital affairs are also very important.

• Language: English
• Keywords: PES-NWI scale, instrument validation, job characteristics, nurse involvement, nurse-physician relationship, advancement opportunities, educational opportunities, staff development
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 1-12
• Numbering: Vol. 22, [article no.] 100
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-145137
• UDC: 331.4: 614.253.5(497.4)
• ISSN on article: 1472-6955
• DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01261-5
• COBISS.SI-ID: 148192003
• Publication date in RUL: 07.04.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: BMC nursing
• Shortened title: BMC Nurs
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 1472-6955
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2443284

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: medicinske sestre, medicinska sestra in zdravnik, delovno okolje, izobraževanje za razvoj kariere, Slovenija

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: ERASMUS +, Action KA2
• Project number: 601092-EPP-1-2018-1-SI-EPPKA2-KA
• Name: Hospitals and faculties together for prosperous and scientific based healthcare