Abstract
Nurses play a critical role in delivering safe, high quality patient care. However, nurses continue to face staffing shortages, turnover, workplace violence, and challenging work environments. Research shows that work environments have a direct impact on nurses and the quality of care provided. Nursing leaders are in a prime position to advocate for healthy work environments that will sustain the nursing workforce and provide nurses with a workplace that is safe, empowering, and satisfying. This research study was part of a larger non-experimental descriptive study on healthy work environments. The study assessed how nurses in different professional roles within a quaternary care academic hospital system perceived their overall work environment across six standards.
This research study was a non-experimental descriptive study using a cross-sectional survey design. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses’ Healthy Work Environment Tool (HWEAT) was used to assess how nurses perceived their overall work environment at a quaternary care academic medical center. Respondents completed the HWEAT anonymously and self-identified their role as nurse leader, direct care staff, non-direct care staff, or advanced practice registered nurse. A total of 565 responses were collected over two months. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between the HWEAT outcomes and the professional role of nurse respondents.
The Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool evaluated organizational performance across the six standards of a healthy work environment: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership. A statistically significant difference was observed in the perceptions of the work environment between nurse leaders and the other nursing groups. Nurse leaders scored all six subscales much higher than other respondents, demonstrating a significant gap in perception of the health of the work environment. Nurse leaders perceived the work environment to be much healthier in comparison to other nursing groups.
The results demonstrate that nurse leaders must have a better understanding of nurses’ perceptions of a healthy work environment. By doing so, nurse leaders can identify specific strategies that can help create healthier work environments and improve the overall performance of the organization.
Notes
References:
Connor, J. A., Ziniel, S. I., Porter, C., Doherty, D., Moonan, M., Dwyer, P., Wood, L., & Hickey, P. A. (2018). Interprofessional Use and Validation of the AACN Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool. American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 27(5), 363–371. https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2018179
Mabona, J. F., van Rooyen, D., & Ten Ham-Baloyi, W. (2022). Best practice recommendations for healthy work environments for nurses: An integrative literature review. Health SA = SA Gesondheid, 27, 1788. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1788
Sigma Membership
Alpha Gamma Gamma
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Acute Care, Workforce, Work Environments, Nurses' Perceptions
Recommended Citation
Muyco, Joanne D. and Hayes, Alexis Elizabeth, "Differences in Nurses’ Perceptions of the Work Environment" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 273.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/273
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, 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
Differences in Nurses’ Perceptions of the Work Environment
Seattle, Washington, USA
Nurses play a critical role in delivering safe, high quality patient care. However, nurses continue to face staffing shortages, turnover, workplace violence, and challenging work environments. Research shows that work environments have a direct impact on nurses and the quality of care provided. Nursing leaders are in a prime position to advocate for healthy work environments that will sustain the nursing workforce and provide nurses with a workplace that is safe, empowering, and satisfying. This research study was part of a larger non-experimental descriptive study on healthy work environments. The study assessed how nurses in different professional roles within a quaternary care academic hospital system perceived their overall work environment across six standards.
This research study was a non-experimental descriptive study using a cross-sectional survey design. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses’ Healthy Work Environment Tool (HWEAT) was used to assess how nurses perceived their overall work environment at a quaternary care academic medical center. Respondents completed the HWEAT anonymously and self-identified their role as nurse leader, direct care staff, non-direct care staff, or advanced practice registered nurse. A total of 565 responses were collected over two months. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between the HWEAT outcomes and the professional role of nurse respondents.
The Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool evaluated organizational performance across the six standards of a healthy work environment: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership. A statistically significant difference was observed in the perceptions of the work environment between nurse leaders and the other nursing groups. Nurse leaders scored all six subscales much higher than other respondents, demonstrating a significant gap in perception of the health of the work environment. Nurse leaders perceived the work environment to be much healthier in comparison to other nursing groups.
The results demonstrate that nurse leaders must have a better understanding of nurses’ perceptions of a healthy work environment. By doing so, nurse leaders can identify specific strategies that can help create healthier work environments and improve the overall performance of the organization.
Description
Explore the differences between nurse leaders and clinicians’ perceptions of the health of their work environment. Learn how nurse leaders can identify specific strategies that can be implemented to help create healthier work environments and improve organizational performance.