Nurse Engagement in the Hospital Setting: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study With a 4-Year Time Series

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Healthcare Management
• Workforce Engagement Studies

Background:

• Nurse engagement is critical for healthcare quality and staff retention.
• Understanding trends and drivers of nurse engagement is essential for effective workforce management.
• Previous research has not fully captured longitudinal changes in nurse engagement within hospital settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and explain the level of nurse engagement from 2019 to 2022.
• To identify background variables and drivers influencing nurse engagement in Finnish hospitals.
• To provide insights for enhancing nurse engagement and retention.

Main Methods:

• An analytical, cross-sectional, multicentre study with a 4-year time series (2019-2022).
• Data collected annually from 24,653 nurses in 9 Finnish hospitals using a modified Nurse Engagement Survey.
• Statistical analysis was performed, adhering to STROBE reporting guidelines.

Main Results:

• Nurse engagement levels varied, with engaged nurses decreasing from 10.0% to 4.2% and disengaged nurses increasing from 25.5% to 50.0% over four years.
• The proportion of content nurses decreased (33.1%–17.0%), while ambivalent nurses remained relatively stable (31.4%–28.8%).
• All analyzed background variables and engagement drivers were statistically significant predictors of nurse engagement levels.

Conclusions:

• The declining trend in nurse engagement and rising disengagement raise concerns about the nursing profession's appeal and staff retention.
• Healthcare organizations must routinely assess nursing workforce engagement and implement targeted leadership strategies.
• Prioritizing leadership practices that attract, retain, and enhance nurse engagement is crucial for sustainable healthcare delivery.