Psychological empowerment and job crafting among registered nurses working in public health: A quantitative study

Abstract

Background and objectives: The researchers examine the relationship between two variables related to work meaningfulness and engagement - psychological empowerment and job crafting - among Ontario registered nurses working in public health.

Research design and methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in Ontario, Canada with registered nurses (n = 238) from six randomly selected health units. Registered nurses provided quantitative ratings of their psychological empowerment and job crafting behaviours in an online, confidential, anonymous survey. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, multiple and hierarchical regressions, and independent samples t-tests.

Results: Significant, positive relationships were observed between overall scores for psychological empowerment and job crafting (r = 0.50, n = 238, p < .01) and for each of their dimensions. Region, age, job, and public health experience explained 26 % of the variance in overall psychological empowerment; job crafting accounted for an additional 24 % of variance. Region and public health experience moderated the relationship between psychological empowerment and job crafting.

Discussion and implications: Registered nurses working in public health experience empowerment when they engage in job crafting. Nurse managers and educators can support and promote job crafting by nurses who are willing to engage and make their jobs more meaningful. What is already known about this topic?

Keywords: Job crafting; Psychological empowerment; Public health; Registered nurses; Work environment; Work redesign.