Health care restructuring in acute care settings : implications for registered nurses' attitudes

• Main Author: Baker, Norma G. L.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2002
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/971/; https://research.library.mun.ca/971/1/Baker_NormaGL.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/971/3/Baker_NormaGL.pdf

A descriptive correlational design was used to investigate acute care nurses' perceptions of the impact of health care reforms and their work-related attitudes and behavioral intentions following restructuring of acute care services in Newfoundland and Labrador. The interrelationships among the key study variables (i.e., personal characteristics and staffing issues, impact of reforms, work-related attitudes, and behavioral intentions) were also examined. The Conceptual Model of Behavioral Intentions (CMBI) was used as the framework for this study. -- The stratified random sample was comprised of 223 registered nurses working in acute care settings under the institutional/integrated boards responsible for health care services in the eight health districts of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. A response rate of 34.1% was achieved. The majority of respondents were female (97.8%), had a diploma/certificate education level (86.1%), were employed on a full-time permanent basis (76.2%), had 10 or more years of nursing experience (74%), were in their current positions for less than 10 years (64.1%), and were employed in facilities outside of the St. John's region (58.8%). The mean age of the sample was 38.26 {SD ±8.07). Data were collected via a mail-out questionnaire (i.e., Employee Attitudes Survey) between November, 1999 and February, 2000. -- Study findings indicated that acute care nurses were generally negative about the overall impact of health care reforms five to six years post- implementation. Respondents were most negative about the emotional climate of the workplace and the quality of care, and most positive about the importance of reforms. As well, most respondents felt their employers had violated psychological contracts made upon hiring, were generally dissatisfied with their jobs, had slightly low levels of commitment to their organizations, and were uncertain about staying with current employers. -- Most of the reform impact variables (i.e., importance of reforms, emotional climate, ...