Influence of Job Stress and Empowerment on Clinical Nurses' Performance in Small and Medium Hospitals

Kim, Young Mi; Yi, Yeo Jin

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to identify the influence of job stress and empowerment on nursing performance of clinical nurses working in small and medium hospital.
METHODS
The empirical data were collected from a self-administered survey using a structured questionnaire with 404 nurses working in 4 medium-sized hospitals (less than 300 beds), located in I-city. The data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program.
RESULTS
There were significant differences in nursing performance depending on general characteristics (age, marital status, religion, shift work, education level, position, clinical experience, department, and monthly salary). Empowerment correlated with nursing performance. Factors influencing on nursing performance were empowerment, clinical experience, job stress, and marital status with R2 value of 36.3%. The most influencing factor was empowerment (beta=.47), followed by clinical experience (beta=.24), job stress (beta=.20), and marriage (beta=.12).
CONCLUSION
It is needed to implement specific empowerment strategy, control job stress, and reward experienced and married nurses working in medium-sized hospital for improving nursing task performance.