The Effects of the Physical and Professional Workplace Environments on the Well-Being of Nursing Staff.

Abstract

Background: Nursing services are often compromised by excessive stress, burnout, and low job satisfaction. These experiences can cause nurses to leave jobs or the profession entirely, exacerbating staffing deficiencies that can have deleterious consequences for patient care.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine which aspects of the physical and social hospital environments might be related to nurses' well-being. Identifying factors and intervening in areas that could reduce staff stress and burnout or improve job satisfaction could help combat nursing staff turnover and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: A total of 2,115 nurses at one tertiary health care campus were anonymously surveyed using Qualtrics. Of these, 393 returned their surveys and provided informed consent. Outcome measures included overall psychological stress, burnout, job satisfaction, and job stress. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics software.

Results: Nurses' appreciation of the physical workplace environment was strongly associated with a positive perception of outcome measures, notably job satisfaction. There was a strong correlation between all outcome measures and nurses' perception of control over their practice, independent of their perception of their physical environment.

Conclusion: This study supports the idea that improvements in nurses' physical working environment can improve nursing staff well-being and job satisfaction. Notably, interventions that are designed to make it easier for nurses to perform their duties may have a positive impact on their well-being. In workplace environments, these include improving orientation, reducing excessive noise, and facilitating increased control over nursing practice by and for nursing staff.