Testing a Work Empowerment-Work Relationship Model to Explain Expertise in Experienced Acute Care Nurses

Abstract

Objective: 

This study tested the ability of work relationships and work empowerment to predict nursing expertise in experienced acute care nurses.

Background: 

With high patient acuity, constant system changes, and multiple changing members of the healthcare team, expert nurses are increasingly important to ensure positive patient outcomes in acute care settings.

Method: 

This study was an exploratory, predictive correlational design with a stratified random sample of 115 staff nurses from a large tertiary care center. Data were collected on work empowerment, work relationships, and nursing expertise.

Results: 

A modified study model was supported in this sample of acute care nurses (R² = 0.258, P = .000) and explained 26% of nurses' reported expertise.

Conclusion: 

Work relationships explained the largest portion of the variance in nurses' reported expertise (16%), more than experience in the specialty (9%) with an indirect link between work empowerment and nursing expertise.