The relationship between nurse empowerment in the hospital work environment and job satisfaction: a pilot study

A pilot exploratory, quantitative study using a correlational design was done to examine the relationship between empowerment of nurses in a hospital work environment and job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to explore the possible relationship between empowerment of nurses and job satisfaction and the need for future research. Nurse staff at a metropolitan New York teaching hospital were sampled. The results indicate a strong positive relationship (p = .003) between empowerment and job satisfaction. As the level of perceived constraint decreased (increased empowerment), the level of job satisfaction increased. The results suggest nurse empowerment is related to job satisfaction. Initial findings suggest further research is needed to expand nursing knowledge about the multifaceted relationship between empowerment and job satisfaction and health care.