Factors that Facilitate and Inhibit Engagement of Registered Nurses: An Analysis and Evaluation of Magnet versus Non-Magnet Designated Hospitals

• Main Author: Wonder, Amy C.
• Other Authors: Fisher, Mary L., Ph.D.
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Registered Nurse; Engagement; Vigor; Dedication; Absorption; Magnet; Nurses; Outcome assessment (Medical care)
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1805/2746

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) === Work engagement of registered nurses (RNs) has gained attention in health care, as an organizational process that is requisite to promoting optimal patient outcomes. Improving patient outcomes has caused a movement to examine what can be done to bridge the disparity between good and excellent care. Standards that enhance RN engagement to promote professional care are seen as vital to excellence. Magnet designation, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, signifies an organization meets such standards. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a correlation exists between RN engagement and the organizational structures common to Magnet designation. This study also evaluated the influence of social and institutional demographics on the relationship between engagement and Magnet designation. The variables in this study included: age (generation), gender, nursing degree, years of RN experience, years of unit longevity, shift, hours scheduled and worked per week, percentage of time in direct patient care, nursing unit, and shared governance council participation. Finally, this study evaluated the influence of RN perception related to organizational support for work on the relationship between engagement and Magnet designation. A total of 370 RNs in Magnet (n = 220) and non-Magnet (n = 150) designated hospitals completed a 17-item engagement survey and a 15-item demographic survey. Major findings of the study indicated no significant difference in RN engagement between nurses who work at Magnet versus non-Magnet designated hospitals. Within the Magnet sample, significant relationships were found between engagement and shift, years of RN experience in any clinical setting, and RN perceptions related to organizational support for work. Scatter plots for nursing experience showed positive slopes for total engagement, vigor, dedication, and absorption. Post-hoc results for RN perception related to organizational support for work identified the significant areas of engagement were total engagement, vigor, and absorption. No significant post-hoc results were noted for the variable of shift. Through significant and non-significant findings, several insights were gained about engagement. As a result of this study, leadership can better assess the needs of the RN workforce to provide what RNs perceive to be important to professional practice and RN engagement.