Hospital nurses' wellbeing at work: a theoretical model

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Occupational Health
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• The concept of wellbeing at work lacks a precise definition and comprehensive consideration of its various components.
• Existing research often overlooks the multifaceted nature of wellbeing in the nursing profession.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a theoretical model specifically for hospital nurses' wellbeing.
• To identify and define the core elements contributing to nurses' positive work experience.

Main Methods:

• A deductive approach was employed to construct the theoretical model.
• Empirical data were gathered from 233 nurses at a university hospital.
• Explorative factor analysis was utilized to analyze the collected data.

Main Results:

• Key concepts identified include patient care quality, peer support, teamwork, work organization, meaningful work, emotional expression, nursing practice quality, professional status, leadership, and professional development.
• Significant factors contributing to wellbeing encompass collegial relationships, high-quality patient care, supportive leadership, well-organized and meaningful work, and professional growth opportunities.

Conclusions:

• The developed model highlights the importance of supportive collegial relationships, fair and effective leadership, and well-organized work environments.
• Fostering an environment that allows nurses autonomy and promotes meaningfulness is crucial for enhancing wellbeing.
• Object-dependent wellbeing, influenced by external factors and work conditions, was found to be supported by these identified themes.