Work Engagement among Acute Care Nurses: A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Work engagement is crucial for healthcare quality.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives on engagement is vital for retention.
• Limited research exists on Omani nurses' work engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Omani nurses' conceptualization of work engagement.
• To identify factors influencing nurses' work engagement.
• To determine strategies for enhancing nurse engagement in Oman.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design.
• Semistructured interviews with 21 Omani nurses.
• Directed content analysis of interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• Work engagement is a positive physical, emotional, and mental state.
• Factors influencing engagement include leadership, teamwork, autonomy, pay, job demand, professional value, and family commitments.
• Nurses' mental engagement persists even off-duty.

Conclusions:

• Management practices significantly impact nurse engagement.
• Strategies like improved compensation, flexible work, and recognition are recommended.
• Nurse feedback is essential for developing effective engagement interventions.