Nurse administrators are challenged to create an environment which will attract and retain professional nurses. Empowerment and autonomy result in job satisfaction and retention of nurses (Laschinger, Finegan & Shamian, 2001). The purpose of this study is to examine the predictive relationships among empowerment, autonomy and job satisfaction of registered nurses. Kanter's Organizational Empowerment Theory (1977, 1993) is the framework. The sample will include 600 nurses who work in urban tertiary care hospitals, randomly selected by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. The Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire (CWEQ)-II will measure nurses' perception of access to opportunity, information, support and resources, and the four work empowerment structures described by Kanter. The Job Activities Scale (JAS) will measure perceptions of job flexibility, visibility, discretion and recognition (formal power) in the work environment. The Organizational Relationships Scale (ORS) will measure sponsor support, peer networking, subordinate relationships, and political alliances (informal power) in the work environment. The Interpersonal Trust at Work Scale will measure confidence in actions of and faith in the intentions of managers and peers. The Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) (Meyer, Allen & Smith) will measure affective and continuance organizational commitment. Findings will provide information for nurse managers about strategies which create an environment to attract and retain nurses.
Research Papers [5100] Research papers submitted to the Graduate School by Ball State University master's degree candidates in partial fulfillment of degree requirements.