Teasley Susan L, Sexton Kathleen A, Carroll Cathryn A, Cox Karen S, Riley Michele, Ferriell Kathleen
Patient Care Services, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
J Rural Health. 2007 Spring;23(2):179-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2007.00087.x.
Effective recruitment and retention of professional nurses is a survival strategy for health care facilities, especially in rural areas.
This study examines the use of the Individual Workload Perception Scale to measure nurse satisfaction by a small rural hospital in order to make positive changes in the work environment for nurses.
Baseline work environment perceptions of nurses employed in a rural Kentucky hospital were assessed using the Individual Workload Perception Scale, a validated 38-item instrument. Nurses reviewed the results and brainstormed on potential interventions to address areas of concern. The 4 interventions selected for implementation by the nursing staff included (1) implementation of a shared decision making or governance model; (2) enhanced role of licensed practical nurses within the organization; (3) augmentation of administrative support on night and weekend shifts; and (4) utilization of wireless communication devices. After implementation of the interventions, staff nurse perceptions were reassessed using the same tool.
The follow-up survey revealed improvements in all areas measured by the Individual Workload Perception Scale, with the greatest improvement in the perception of the work environment noted among night nurses. The increase in positive work environment perception among these nurses, with greater than or equal to 11 years of professional experience, was statistically significant.
Tools exist to support the development and evaluation of interventions to improve the work environment for nurses practicing in rural health care settings. By addressing issues of specific concern, both job satisfaction and retention of this talented pool of professionals can be enhanced.
有效招聘和留住专业护士是医疗机构的一项生存策略，尤其是在农村地区。
本研究考察一家小型农村医院如何使用个体工作量感知量表来衡量护士满意度，以便对护士的工作环境做出积极改变。
使用个体工作量感知量表（一种经验证有效的包含38个条目的工具）对肯塔基州一家农村医院聘用护士的工作环境基线认知进行评估。护士们查看了结果，并就解决关切领域的潜在干预措施展开头脑风暴。护理人员选择实施的4项干预措施包括：（1）实施共同决策或治理模式；（2）加强执业护士在组织内的作用；（3）增加夜间和周末班次的行政支持；（4）使用无线通信设备。在实施干预措施后，使用同一工具对护士的认知进行重新评估。
后续调查显示，个体工作量感知量表所衡量的所有领域均有改善，夜间护士对工作环境的认知改善最为显著。这些拥有11年及以上专业经验的护士对积极工作环境的认知增加具有统计学意义。
有工具可支持开发和评估改善农村医疗环境中护士工作环境的干预措施。通过解决特定关切问题，可以提高工作满意度并留住这批优秀的专业人员。
