Nurses’ perception of structural empowerment in commitment towards quality improvement sustainability

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the level of nurses’ perception on key predictors of structural empowerment that provided at workplace, which could influence the nurses’ commitment towards sustainability activities through QI in healthcare, Malaysia. The researcher has utilized the dominant elements of the Quality Improvement Framework (2016) developed by National Improvement (QI) team and relate to the conceptual links of Kanter’s Structural Theory of Power in Organizations (1977, 1993) to form the conceptual framework to support the current basic quantitative study. A total of 315 nurses from 5 private specialist hospitals in Johor, Malaysia was participated in the current study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses. Through descriptive statistics, results revealed that the nurses perceived themselves to empower with moderate to high level of powers gains through their existing formal and informal QI activities/system, as well as accesses to job-related empowerment structures in the workplace that could enhanced their commitment towards QI sustainability. SEM analysis indicated that a significant effect of job-related empowerment structures and the nurses’ commitment towards sustainable QI practices in local private healthcare sector in Johor, Malaysia. In conclusion, nurses can be empowered for sustainability activities through QI at all levels in the healthcare organization if they are empowering with sufficient and efficient of fundamental keys of job-related empowerment structures in workplace.