Assessment of professional nursing governance and hospital magnet components at Alexandria Medical Research Institute, Egypt

Abstract

Background and objective: In the context of a rapidly evolving health care system, health care institutions strive to set a path towards an excellent professional practice environment. Since improving clinical nurse work environments is a major issue faced by nurse executives and administrators, they become challenged to establish nursing governance models, and leadership practices so that clinical nurses can engage in the work processes and relationships that are empirically linked to quality patient outcomes. The main aim of this study was to assess the current status of professional nursing governance and hospital magnet components at Alexandria Medical Research Institute, Egypt.

Methods: A descriptive research design was conducted at Alexandria Medical Research Institute hospital, using a convenience sample (N = 220) that composed of two groups including; all hospital medical administrators (n = 10) and hospital nursing workforce (n = 210). Index of Professional Nursing Governance Questionnaire (IPNGQ) and Magnet Hospital Forces Interview were proved valid and reliable to measure study variables.

Results: The overall mean score of professional nursing governance was (187.59 ± 63.74) reflected that staff nurses practice the first level of nursing shared governance (primarily nursing management who take the decision with some staff input). In addition, both medical administrators and nursing staff identified the hospital has a good structure, nursing leadership practices that support shared governance and magnet recognition. Structural equation model and correlation analysis revealed a positive association between overall professional nursing governance and hospital magnet components (p < .05).

Conclusions and recommendations: The study emphasized the hospital administrators’ important role for providing supportive organizational structures and leadership practices for increasing participation of nursing staff in work design, problem-solving, conflict resolution, committees and organizational decision-making as “key ingredients to a successful organization” in turn, lead to a healthy and magnet-like work environment. Training programs for nurses’ professional development are recommended which enhance and increases their autonomy and empowerment.