Staff nurse perceptions of the work environment: a comparison among ethnic backgrounds

This study examined the relationship among ethnicity and perceptions of the work environment among staff nurses in a large urban hospital in Northern California. Moos' Work Environment Scale, System Maintenance and Change Dimensions, was used to investigate staff nurse perception of the work environment related to role clarity, managerial control, and innovation. Findings of this study suggest statistically significant differences in the way Caucasian and non-Caucasian nurses viewed the extent to which management used rules and pressures. The perception of control in the work environment is an important factor in retention and in maintaining a quality workplace.