Organising Nurse Work Environments: (Reshaped) Roles of Nursing Teams-A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing research
• Organizational psychology
• Healthcare management

Background:

• Nursing teams play a crucial role in healthcare delivery.
• The work environment significantly impacts patient care quality and nurse retention.
• Understanding how teams co-organize their environment is essential for improving healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how nursing teams actively organize their work environments beyond traditional caregiving roles.
• To identify factors contributing to a more supportive and effective nursing work environment.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative study employing a phenomenological approach.
• Semi-structured group interviews with 18 nursing teams (nurses and managers) in a Dutch general hospital.
• Thematic analysis of verbatim transcribed interviews.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: embracing diversity, stretching nursing roles, raising voices, and aligning nurses and managers.
• These themes illustrate how nursing teams proactively shape their work environment.
• The findings highlight the active role of teams in co-organizing their professional context.

Conclusions:

• Extending nursing roles and actively shaping the work environment leads to more supportive settings.
• These supportive environments enhance both patient care and professional development for nurses.
• The study provides practical insights for nursing teams aiming to improve their work environment and professionalism.