Does empowerment enhance nurses' organizational commitment?

Aim We examined whether psychological empowerment was significantly associated with the organizational commitment of licensed practical nurses. Background Healthcare organizations face unprecedented staffing challenges. This study provides insight into potential ways to ameliorate these issues. Methods In early 2010, we distributed a 45-item questionnaire, based on established measures of psychological empowerment and organizational commitment, to the entire population of active, full-time licensed practical nurses throughout a Midwestern US state. Our sample consisted of 1165 respondents. Results The results of our data analysis suggest that even after controlling for a range of potentially confounding variables, three subscales (meaning, self-determination and impact) were positively and associated with organizational commitment. However, one subscale (competence) was negatively related to the outcome. Conclusions The psychological empowerment dimensions of impact, meaning and self-determination are associated with increased organizational commitment among licensed practical nurses. Implications for Nursing Management Considering the profound staffing challenges facing the nursing profession-exacerbated by the current global pandemic and retirements-our findings provide nurse administrators with critical information to use in stemming the wave of nurses leaving the profession.