Relationship between nurse practice environment and work outcomes: A survey study in the Philippines. Issue 1 (16th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Falguera, Charlie C.; De los Santos, Janet Alexis A.; Galabay, Jolo R.; Firmo, Carmen N.; Tsaras, Konstantinos; Rosales, Rheajane A.; Mirafuentes, Ephraim Catoto; Labrague, Leodoro J.
• Is Part Of: International journal of nursing practice. Volume 27:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-07-16
• Subjects: job burnout -- job stress -- nurse practice environment -- nurse work outcomes -- quality of patient care -- the Philippines; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Practice -- Periodicals; 610.73092
• DOI: 10.1111/ijn.12873
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1322-7114

Abstract

Abstract: Aims: Challenges in the nurse practice environment greatly affect nurse work outcomes. This study investigated the relationship between nurse practice environment and work outcomes in the Philippines. Methods: This cross‐sectional survey involved 549 hospital nurses in the Philippines in 2018. The nurse practice environment was measured using the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES‐NWI). Four self‐report scales were used to measure work outcomes: job satisfaction, job burnout, job stress and nurse‐assessed quality of care. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Significant relationships were found between nurse and organizational characteristics and nurse practice environment. Further, multivariate regression analysis revealed that the nurse practice environment had a significant and positive relationship with perceived quality of care and a significant and negative relationship with job burnout and job stress. Conclusion: A favourable work environment significantly reduced job burnout and job stress and improved the quality of patient care. With considerable migration abroad, a favourable nurse practice environment may engage a better nurse workforce in the country and subsequently reduce migration. Managers must focus on developing good nurse practice environments that will improve professional work outcomes and quality patient care. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about the topic? The nurse practice environment in hospital settings comprises nurse participation in hospital affairs; nurse foundation for quality care; nurse manager ability, leadership and support for nurses; staffing and resource adequacy; and collegial nurse–physician relations. For many years, substantial numbers of Filipino nurses have migrated abroad seeking a better practice environment with better professional and personal development opportunities. What this paper adds? Similar to many international studies, the data analysis supports certain elements of the nurse practice environment being significantly related to better work outcomes. Collegial nurse–physician relations and nurse participation in hospital affairs were negatively related to nurse level of job burnout. Staffing and resource adequacy and the overall perceptions the of nurse practice environment were negatively related to both job burnout and job stress. Overall, the nurse practice environment was predicted by personal characteristics (years of nursing and highest educational attainment) as well as organizational factors (location of work, type of hospital and hospital bed capacity). A favourable nurse practice environment affects the quality of patient care; however, it had no relationship with job satisfaction among nurses. The implications of this paper: A favourable nurse practice environment may result in reduced job stress and job burnout among nurses. Considering the substantial migration of Filipino nurses abroad, improving the nurse practice environment and associated work outcomes may be used as a strategy to encourage Filipino nurses to remain in the country to work and serve sick and needy Filipinos. Health‐care managers must consider professional and organizational factors that improve the work environment for nurses. Promoting professional advancement and career development for nurses may enhance the nurse practice environment. The challenges of an unfavourable nurse practice environment need to be addressed through coordinated efforts of government agencies, policymakers, nurse organizations and hospital administrators.