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Practice environment and its association with professional competence and work‐related factors: perception of newly graduated nurses
Author(s) -
Numminen Olivia,
Ruoppa Eija,
LeinoKilpi Helena,
Isoaho Hannu,
Hupli Maija,
Meretoja Riitta
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1111/jonm.12280
Subject(s) - competence (human resources) , nursing , workforce , job satisfaction , perception , staffing , work environment , psychology , medicine , social psychology , neuroscience , economics , economic growth
Aim To explore newly graduated nurses' ( NGN ) perception of their practice environment and its association with their self‐assessed competence, turnover intentions and job satisfaction as work‐related factors. Background The impact of practice environment on nurses' work is important. Positive practice environments are associated with positive organisational, nurse and patient outcomes. How this applies to NGN s needs further exploration. Method A cross‐sectional descriptive correlation design was used. Data were collected with PES ‐ NWI and NCS instruments from 318 Finnish registered nurses, and analysed statistically. Results Newly graduated nurses' perception of their practice environment was mainly positive. Most positive perceptions related to collegial nurse–physician relations, and the least positive to staffing and resource adequacy. Positive perceptions were also associated with higher professional competence, higher perceptions of quality of care and lower intentions to leave the job or profession. Conclusion The findings revealed strong and significant associations between practice environment and work‐related factors. Practice environment is an important element in supporting NGN s' competence, retention and job satisfaction. Nursing management should pay attention to NGN s' perceptions of their practice environment. Implications for nursing management Management's ability to create and maintain positive practice environments can foster NGN s' professional development and job satisfaction, and consequently retain them in the workforce.