The relationship of participation in shared governance to work satisfaction among cardiovascular nurses working in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Shared governance has been used as a framework that provides nurses with both the structure and the mechanism to enhance decision-making authority and improve level of satisfaction. This study examined the level of work satisfaction among nurses working at cardiovascular department after the implementation of Shared Governance Model in a tertiary hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A descriptive cross sectional study design was adopted using the Index of Work Satisfaction Part-B (IWS-Part-B). Non-random convenience sample of 168 nurses who have worked in the cardiovascular department for more than two years received self-administered questionnaire (IWS-Part-B) on level of satisfaction about tasks, autonomy, interaction, decision making, professional status and pay. 145 nurses returned the questionnaire with a response rate of 86.3%. Overall, nurses were moderately satisfied (IWS-Part-B: 181.10). They were moderately satisfied with autonomy, interaction, and professional status variables; while they were moderately unsatisfied with decision making, tasks requirements, and payment variables. Participation in decision making was the strongest predictor of work satisfaction, accounting for 71.4% of the explained variance (r = 0.845, R 2 = 0.714, p = .000), followed by autonomy variable (r = 0.821, R 2 = 0.671, p = .000) and interaction variable (r = 0.803, R 2 = 0.645, p = .000). The findings of this study supported the positive role that shared governance plays in empowering nurses and enhancing their participation in the decision making process. Another multi-centers study is needed recruiting a larger sample from different departments that adopt SGM to better detect the effect of SGM on level of satisfaction and decision making in particular.

Good nurse–nurse collaboration implies high job satisfaction: A structural equation modelling approach

“…In other words, more satisfied nurses were more motivated and appreciative of their work and found their work interesting. Similar results were obtained by Shwaihet and Nasaif (), who reported that participation in decision‐making and autonomy are strong predictors of job satisfaction. However, it should be noted that young RNs have also reported a lack of support, feelings of isolation and excessive responsibility as reasons for leaving the profession (Flinkman & Salanterä, ).…”

“…Factors relating to nurses' working welfare such as professional development and competence are enhanced by autonomy and decision‐making. Satisfaction with job status (full‐time or part‐time), work‐life balance and access to resources (support staff) are important factors for retaining nurses in the profession (Tourangeau et al, ), while shared governance strategies encourage nurses to play more active roles in decision‐making (Shwaihet & Nasaif, ).…”

“…Nurses use communication skills such as caring, openness, interest in others and empathy when communicating with each other and were shown to use these skills to a higher degree than other pro- while shared governance strategies encourage nurses to play more active roles in decision-making (Shwaihet & Nasaif, 2015).…”

Nurses’ lived experience serving on unit-based councils: A literature review

“…Further, the autonomy nurses had in their work and the extent of their interactions with other nurses and physicians have also been reported to play a significant role in their job satisfaction. [27] Lastly, the total years of experience working in their current units had also a significant relationship with their level of job satisfaction. Nurses who had worked between 16 to 20 years in their current unit had the highest level of satisfaction, while nurses with 10 to 15 years of experience in their current unit had the lowest level.…”

“…The autonomous participation in decision-making processes contributes to frontline staff to achieve job satisfaction. [25][26][27] Engagement in decision-making offered nurses a sense of having control over their practice and having a voice in their patients' care planning. Further, the autonomy nurses had in their work and the extent of their interactions with other nurses and physicians have also been reported to play a significant role in their job satisfaction.…”