The Relationship between Nurses' Professional Shared Governance and Their Work Empowerment at Mansoura University and Specialized Medical Hospitals

Abstract

The concept of shared governance in nursing first emerged in the 1980s and was based on principles from organizational development models. Shared governance is defined as an organizational model that allows nurses to have control over their practice as well as influence in administrative areas. Today shared governance is a key empowerment mechanism in nursing organizations. Staff empowerment is fundamental to shared governance, including both the state of empowerment itself and the structures that facilitate it. Hence, the present study aims to examine the relationship between nurses perceptions of professional shared governance and their working empowerment at Mansoura University Hospital and Specialized Medical Hospital. Descriptive correlational design was utilized in the present study. The study subjects includes 133 nurses working in all inpatient surgical departments at Mansoura University Hospital and all general medical inpatient departments at Specialized Medical Hospital. Two tools were used for data collection, namely; Index of Professional Nursing Governance (IPNG) and Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire. The study findings indicated that there were significant relationship between nurses perceptions of professional shared governance and their working empowerment. It is recommended to there is a need for nurse managers’ to implement empowering strategies such as shared governance that afford staff nurses the opportunity to have control over nursing practice and promote quality nursing care. In addition to support governance strategies by providing education and development of both managers and staff.