EMPOWERMENT OF NURSES FROM A HOSPITAL IN THE SOUTH OF CHILE

to identify the level of empowerment among the nurses from a hospital located in the south of Chile and verify its potential association with personal and professional characterization variables.

Method:

cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted with 117 nurses from a hospital in the south of Chile. Data were collected in 2018 using a personal and professional characterization form and the Spanish version of the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire II. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results:

the means of the factors of the empowerment scale were: Opportunity (4.11±0.82); Information (3.81±0.90); Support (3.81±0.86), and Resources (3.13±0.97). Statistically significant differences were found between empowerment and having greater professional experience, working in the medical-surgical unit, having from 3 to 10 patients under responsibility, job satisfaction, and intention to quit their jobs.

Conclusion:

the nurses reported a positive perception of empowerment in their roles, especially concerning having opportunities to perform tasks that contribute to acquiring new knowledge and skills at work.

DESCRIPTORS:
Nursing; Working environment; Nursing, supervisory; Nursing administration research; Hospital, public; Power, psychological

Variable	n (%)
Professional experience
More than 20 years	19 (16.8)
10 to 20 years	32 (28.3)
5 to 10 years	31 (27.4)
3 to 5 years	7 (6.2)
Up to 3 years	24 (21.2)
Time working in the facility
More than 20 years	13 (11.5)
10 to 20 years	26 (23)
5 to 10 years	37 (32.7)
3 to 5 years	10 (8.8)
Up to 3 years	27 (23.9)
Employment relationship
Fixed-term contract	62 (53)
Permanent employee	15 (12.8)
Permanente substitute	10 (8.5)
Substitute or replacement	30 (25.6)
Profession
4-day shift Clinical Nurse	64 (54.7)
Daytime Clinical Nurse	18 (15.4)
Nursing Specialties	14 (12)
Nursing supervisor/coordinator	21 (17.9)
Service
Medical surgical ward	41 (35.3)
Ward specialties	17 (14.7)
Outpatient care	9 (7.8)
Critical care units	42 (36.2)
Management service	7 (6)
Number of patients under one’s responsibility
3 to 10 patients	29 (37.7)
11 to 15 patients	10 (13)
16 to 20 patients	6 (7.8)
21 to 30 patients	28 (36.4)
31 or more patients	4 (5.2)
Other job
Yes	19 (16.2)
No	98 (83.8)
Total workload
Up to 44 hours	54 (46.6)
More than 44 hours	62 (53.4)

Variable	n (%)
Job satisfaction
Very dissatisfied	3 (2.6)
Dissatisfied	6 (5.1)
Satisfied	65 (55.6)
Very satisfied	43 (36.8)
Assessment of the care provided to patients
Very poor	-
Poor	1 (0.9)
Good	51 (43.6)
Very good	65 (55.6)
Intention to quit job
No intention	85 (72.6)
1 - 5	20 (17.1)
6 - 10	12 (10.3)

	Mean (SD)*
Opportunity	4.11 (0.82)
Challenging work.	3.93 (1.03)
The chance to gain new skills and knowledge on the job.	3.95 (1.19)
Tasks that use all of your own skills and knowledge.	4.44 (0.76)
Information	3.81 (0.90)
Information regarding the organization’s current state.	3.75 (0.91)
Information regarding the organization’s values.	3.85 (0.98)
Information regarding the organization’s goals.	3.84 (1.00)
Support	3.81 (0.86)
Specific information about things you do well.	3.73 (1.11)
Specific comments about things you could improve.	3.78 (0.98)
Helpful hints or problem-solving advice.	3.91 (0.96)
Resources	3.13 (0.97)
Time available to do the necessary paperwork.	2.81 (1.10)
Time available to accomplish job requirements.	3.33 (1.07)
Acquiring temporary help when needed.	3.23 (1.31)

	Opportunity			Information			Support			Resources
	n	mean(SD)*	p	n	mean(SD)*	p	n	mean(SD)*	p	n	mean(SD)*	p
Professional experience
More ttdan 20 years	19	4.7^b [3.7; 5.0]	0.040^†	19	4.0 [3.0; 4.7]	0.645^†	19	3.3^ab [2.7; 4.7]	0.023^†	19	3.0 [1.7; 4.0]	0.200^†
10 to 20 years	32	4.3^ab [3.7; 4.7]		32	4.0 [3.0; 4.7]		32	4.0^a [3.7; 4.7]		32	3.3 [2.8; 3.8]
5 to 10 years	31	4.0^ab [3.7; 4.7]		31	4.0 [3.3; 4.7]		31	4.0^a [3.7; 4.3]		31	3.0 [2.3; 3.3]
3 to 5 years	7	3.3^a [2.3; 3.7]		7	3.7 [3.3; 4.0]		7	2.7^b [2.3; 4.0]		7	3.0 [2.3; 3.3]
Up to 3 years	24	4.3^ab [3.8; 5.0]		24	3.8 [3.3; 4.2]		24	4.0^ab [3.3; 4.5]		24	3.5 [3.0; 4.0]
Service
Medical surgical ward	41	3.7^a [3.0; 4.0]	<0.001^†	41	3.3^a [3.0; 4.0]	0.005^†	41	3.3^a [3.0; 4.0]	0.003^†	41	2.7^a [2.0; 3.0]	<0.001^†
Nursing Specialties	17	4.3^b [4.0; 5.0]		17	4.0^ab [3.3; 4.7]		17	4.0^ab [3.7; 4.7]		17	3.0^ab [2.7; 3.7]
Outpatient care	9	4.7^ab [4.3; 4.7]		9	4.7^b [4.0; 5.0]		9	4.3^ab [3.7; 4.7]		9	3.7^ab [3.3; 3.7]
Critical care units	42	4.7^b [4.0; 5.0]		42	4.0^ab [3.3; 4.7]		42	4.0^b [3.7; 4.7]		42	3.7^b [3.3; 4.3]
Management	7	4.0^ab [3.0; 4.7]		7	5.0^ab [3.0; 5.0]		7	3.7^ab [3.0; 4.7]		7	3.3^ab [1.7; 3.7]
Number of patients under your responsibility
3 to 10 patients	29	4.7^a [4.0; 5.0]	0.002^†	29	3.7 [3.0; 4.3]	0.150^†	29	4.0 [3.3; 4.7]	0.225^†	29	3.3^a [3.0; 4.0]	0.001^†
11 to 15 patients	10	4.0^ab [3.7; 4.3]		10	4.0 [3.3; 4.7]		10	3.8 [3.3; 4.0]		10	3.0^ab [3.0; 3.3]
16 to 20 patients	6	4.7^ab [4.3; 5.0]		6	4.2 [4.0; 4.3]		6	4.0 [3.0; 4.7]		6	3.2^ab [2.7; 3.7]
21 to 30 patients	28	3.7^b [3.2; 4.0]		28	3.3 [3.0; 4.0]		28	3.3 [3.0; 4.0]		28	2.7^a [1.7; 3.0]
31 or more patients	4	4.0^ab [3.3; 4.2]		4	3.7 [3.2; 4.5]		4	3.7 [3.3; 3.7]		4	2.8^b [2.0; 3.5]
Job satisfaction
Very dissatisfied	3	5.0^ab [4.0; 5.0]	<0.001^†	3	4.0^ab [4.0; 5.0]	<0.001^†	3	4.7^a [4.7; 5.0]	<0.001^†	3	3.7^ab [3.3; 3.7]	<0.001^†
Dissatisfied	6	3.8^a [2.7; 4.0]		6	3.3^a [2.0; 4.0]		6	3.3^b [2.0; 3.7]		6	2.5^a [1.7; 3.0]
Satisfied	65	3.7^a [3.3; 4.3]		65	3.3^a [3.0; 4.0]		65	3.7^b [3.0; 4.0]		65	3.0^a [2.0; 3.3]
Very satisfied	43	4.7^b [4.3; 5.0]		43	4.3^b [3.7; 5.0]		43	4.3^a [4.0; 5.0]		43	3.7^b [3.0; 4.3]
Assessment of the care provided to patents
Very poor	0	0.0 [0.0; 0.0]	0.024^†	0	0.0 [0.0; 0.0]	0.008^†	0	0.0 [0.0; 0.0]	<0.001^†	0	0.0 [0.0; 0.0]	0.001^†
Poor	1	4.0^ab [4.0; 4.0]		1	4.3^ab [4.3; 4.3]		1	4.0^ab [4.0; 4.0]		1	3.0^ab [3.0; 3.0]
Good	51	3.7^a [3.3; 4.7]		51	3.3^a [3.0; 4.0]		51	3.7^a [3.0; 4.0]		51	3.0^a [2.0; 3.3]
Very good	65	4.3^b [4.0; 5.0]		65	4.0^b [3.3; 4.7]		65	4.3^b [3.7; 4.7]		65	3.3^b [3.0; 4.0]
Intention to quit job
No intention	85	4.31^a (0.74)	<0.001^‡	85	4.0^a [3.3; 4.7]	0.013^†	85	4.0^a [3.3; 4.7]	0.001^†	85	3.24^a (0.99)	0.046^‡
1 - 5	20	3.75^b (0.77)		20	3.3^b [3.0; 3.8]		20	3.3^b [2.5; 4.0]		20	3.00^ab (0.66)
6 - 10	12	3.25^b (0.64)		12	3.8^ab [3.2; 4.0]		12	3.5^ab [2.7; 4.2]		12	2.53^b (1.06)

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem Campus Universitário Trindade, 88040-970 Florianópolis - Santa Catarina - Brasil, Tel.: (55 48) 3721-4915 / (55 48) 3721-9043 - Florianópolis - SC - Brazil
E-mail: textoecontexto@contato.ufsc.br

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[1] CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
José Luís Guedes dos Santos jose.santos@ufsc.br