Structural Empowerment of Nurses in the Hospital Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: Structural empowerment involves access to opportunities, information, support, and resources within the work environment. These elements are crucial as they foster nurses' professional growth and autonomy. Given their significance, understanding hospital nurses' perceptions of structural empowerment is important. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore hospital nurses' perceptions of their levels of structural empowerment. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 684 nurses from a Portuguese hospital, conducted between November 2024 and January 2025. The questionnaire collected demographic data and employed the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire II. Results: The mean total score for structural empowerment was 18.74 (SD = 3.46), with significant differences found between nurses and specialist nurses, for those with the specialist title (p = 0.0477) and within the professional category (p = 0.0058), as well as between nurses working day shifts and those working day and night shifts (p < 0.0001). Additional significant differences were observed between nurses from the Medicine department (median [Q1-Q3]: 19.25 [17.00-21.50]) and those from the Surgery department (18.17 [16.00-20.25], p = 0.0104), as well as between Generation Z nurses (19.58 [17.33-21.83]) and Generation Y nurses (18.29 [16.25-20.33], p = 0.0018). Conclusions: These results underscore the importance of consistently promoting structural empowerment across the nursing staff, addressing disparities between groups, and improving both professional development and quality of patient care.