Title
Nurse safety outcomes: old problem, new solution - the differentiating roles of nurses' psychological capital and managerial support
Document Type
Article
Publication details
Brunetto, Y, Xerri, M, Farr-Wharton, B, Shacklock, K, Farr-Wharton, R & Trinchero, E 2016, 'Nurse safety outcomes: old problem, new solution - the differentiating roles of nurses' psychological capital and managerial support', Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 72, issue 11, pp. 2794-2805.
Published version available from:
Peer Reviewed
Peer-Reviewed
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the impacts of nurses' psychological capital and managerial support, plus specific safety interventions (managerial safety priorities, safety training satisfaction), on nurses' in-role safety performance.
BACKGROUND: Most hospitals in industrialized countries have adopted selective (often the least costly) aspects of safety, usually related to safety policies. However, patient safety remains a challenge in many countries. Research shows that training can be used to upskill employees in psychological capital, with statistically significant organizational and employee benefits, but this area is under-researched in nursing.
DESIGN: Data were collected using a survey-based, self-report strategy. The emerging patterns of data were then compared with the findings of previous research.
METHODS: Quantitative survey data were collected during 2014 from 242 nurses working in six Australian hospitals. Two models were tested and analysed using covariance-based Structural Equation Modelling.
RESULTS: Psychological capital and safety training satisfaction were important predictors of nurses' in-role safety performance and as predictors of nurses' perceptions of whether management implements what it espouses about safety ('managerial safety priorities'). Managerial support accounted for just under a third of psychological capital and together, psychological capital and managerial support, plus satisfaction with safety training, were important to nurses' perceptions of in-role safety performance.
CONCLUSION: Organizations are likely to benefit from upskilling nurses and their managers to increase nurses' psychological capital and managerial support, which then will enhance nurses' satisfaction with training and in-role safety performance perceptions.
