Abstract
Background: Mattering, the feeling that you make a difference and are significant to others,1 is endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General as an essential part of a healthy work environment.2 Mattering is negatively associated with nursing burnout and turnover, and targeted interventions to enhance nurses’ perceptions of mattering may be useful for making systemic changes to the nursing work environment. 3,4 To-date there are no studies that explore how nurses perceive they matter at work.
Purpose: To explore aspects of the health care work environment that influence nurses’ perceptions of mattering and identify workplace changes that can be made to enhance nurse mattering.
Methods: Nurses’ experiences and perceptions of mattering in the health care work environment were explored through individual, semi-structured interviews. Participants were screened to ensure they were registered nurses who were licensed and practiced in the U.S., worked in inpatient facilities, and provided direct patient care on acute and/or critical care units.
Results: A sample of 22 registered nurses participated in interviews. Thematic analysis resulted in 4 themes that explored how nurses perceive they matter at work: 1) Mattering as an individual, 2) Having a voice is important for mattering, 3) Recognition and appreciation support mattering, 4) Attending to well-being enhances mattering. Recommendations for workplace changes to enhance nurse mattering were made based on these themes and participants’ suggestions.
Conclusion: There are multiple workplace factors that impact how nurses perceive they matter, and these influences can be addressed through workplace changes and interventions to enhance nurse mattering. Attending to nurse mattering in the health care work environment may enhance nurses’ perceptions of how they are valued at work. Work place changes to improve nurse mattering may support healthy work environments and lead to improvements in nursing burnout and turnover.
Notes
References:
1. Rosenberg M, McCullough BC. Mattering: Inferred significance and mental health. Res Community Ment Health. 1981;2:163-182.
2. U.S. Surgeon General. The U.S. Surgeon General’s framework for workplace mental health and well-being. Published online 2022. https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html
3. Haizlip J, McCluney C, Hernandez M, Quatrara B, Brashers V. Mattering: How organizations, patients, and peers can affect nurse burnout and engagement. J Nurs Adm. 2020;50(5):267-273. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000000882
4. Epstein EG, Haizlip J, Liaschenko J, Zhao D, Bennett R, Marshall MF. Moral distress, mattering, and secondary traumatic stress in provider burnout: A call for moral community. AACN Adv Crit Care. 2020;31(2):146-157. doi:10.4037/aacnacc2020285
Sigma Membership
Alpha Rho
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Workforce, Acute Care, Enhancing Professional Well-Being
Recommended Citation
Hall, Katherine and Epstein, Beth, "Supporting a Healthy Work Environment by Attending to Nurse Mattering" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 44.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/44
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Supporting a Healthy Work Environment by Attending to Nurse Mattering
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Background: Mattering, the feeling that you make a difference and are significant to others,1 is endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General as an essential part of a healthy work environment.2 Mattering is negatively associated with nursing burnout and turnover, and targeted interventions to enhance nurses’ perceptions of mattering may be useful for making systemic changes to the nursing work environment. 3,4 To-date there are no studies that explore how nurses perceive they matter at work.
Purpose: To explore aspects of the health care work environment that influence nurses’ perceptions of mattering and identify workplace changes that can be made to enhance nurse mattering.
Methods: Nurses’ experiences and perceptions of mattering in the health care work environment were explored through individual, semi-structured interviews. Participants were screened to ensure they were registered nurses who were licensed and practiced in the U.S., worked in inpatient facilities, and provided direct patient care on acute and/or critical care units.
Results: A sample of 22 registered nurses participated in interviews. Thematic analysis resulted in 4 themes that explored how nurses perceive they matter at work: 1) Mattering as an individual, 2) Having a voice is important for mattering, 3) Recognition and appreciation support mattering, 4) Attending to well-being enhances mattering. Recommendations for workplace changes to enhance nurse mattering were made based on these themes and participants’ suggestions.
Conclusion: There are multiple workplace factors that impact how nurses perceive they matter, and these influences can be addressed through workplace changes and interventions to enhance nurse mattering. Attending to nurse mattering in the health care work environment may enhance nurses’ perceptions of how they are valued at work. Work place changes to improve nurse mattering may support healthy work environments and lead to improvements in nursing burnout and turnover.
Description
Mattering, the feeling that you make a difference and are significant to others, was recently included in the US Surgeon General’s Five Essentials for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being. This qualitative study explored nurses’ perceptions of mattering within the health care work environment and highlighted workplace changes that can enhance nurses’ sense of mattering at work.