Work engagement and its associated factors among nurses in hospitals of western Ethiopia.

Background: Nurses' work engagement is vital for enhancing the quality of care in healthcare settings. As a significant part of the healthcare workforce, nurses require motivation, self-identification, full concentration, and deep engagement to perform effectively. Factors such as the meaning of work, nursing leadership, and available resources have been identified as influencing nurses' work engagement. Despite previous studies addressing work engagement, few have assessed the associations between evidence-based practise, sociodemographic factors, and work-related characteristics. This study examines the level of work engagement and its associated factors among professional nurses in hospitals in western Ethiopia.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 21 September and 31 December 2023, involving 418 nurses working in seven hospitals. The modified Job Demands-Resources and the Nursing Job Demands-Resources models guided the research. Work engagement was assessed using the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, independent variables such as organisational justice, social support, job satisfaction, and employee involvement, were measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, and evidence-based practise was measured using a short Evidence-based Practise Implementation Scale. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 25, with simple and multiple linear regression analyses identifying relationships between independent and dependent variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: The mean work engagement score among nurses was 4.02 (SD [Formula: see text] 1.29). Being female (β = 0.301, 95% CI: 0.067, 0.535), employed at a teaching hospital (β = 0.697, 95% CI: 0.395, 1.00), the meaning of work (β = 0.124, 95% CI: 0.057, 0.190), and engagement in evidence-based practise (β = 0.184, 95% CI: 0.065, 0.303) were associated with work engagement. The model explained 20.1% of the variability in work engagement.

Conclusion: The level of work engagement among nurses in western Ethiopia aligns with findings from other studies. Factors like being female, working in the teaching hospitals, the meaning of work, and engagement in evidence-based practise were found to positively influence work engagement. Future research should explore predictors of work engagement at the national level.