The Influence of the Clinical Context on nursing organizational well-being: A Cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction. A healthcare organization that promotes the well-being of its nurses ensures better quality and safety for patients. Studies have focused on investigating nurses' experiences without examining the differences related to specific clinical contexts in determining their organizational well-being. This study aims to identify which variables in specific nursing clinical contexts are associated with their reported organizational well-being.

Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist. A convenience sample of nurses from different departments (e.g., medicine, surgery, emergency room) was recruited in different hospital settings across Italy. Data were collected through a web survey comprising validated instruments that investigated organizational well-being and associated variables (e.g., work-home conflicts, relationships, resources). Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted.

Results. The study included 272 nurses. In medical departments, organizational well-being was associated with nurses' relationships with physicians (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), colleagues (r = 0.32, p < 0.01), and head nurse (r = 0.23, p < 0.05), available resources (r = 0.46, p < 0.001), workload (r = -0.23, p < 0.05), and work-home conflicts (r = -0.49, p < 0.001). In surgical departments, it was associated with available resources (r = 0.36, p < 0.01), relationships with the head nurse (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), and work-home conflicts (r = -0.29, p < 0.01). In emergency departments, it was associated with nurses' relationships with physicians (r = 0.24, p < 0.05) and head nurses (r = 0.29, p < 0.01), available resources (r = 0.42, p < 0.001), workload (r = -0.25, p < 0.01), and work-home conflicts (r = -0.38, p < 0.001). The mean scores for workload and relationships with the head nurse differed among the considered departments.

Discussion. The results underlined differences in organizational well-being perception depending on the clinical context. Relationships with physicians and colleagues were only associated with nurses' well-being in specific clinical settings. In contrast, work-family conflicts, availability of resources, and relationships with the head nurse were common clinical context variables influencing the organizational well-being perceived by nurses. This study adds to the existing literature by highlighting how different clinical environments shape nurses' organizational well-being, emphasizing the need for tailored organizational interventions to address context-specific challenges.