Poster Presentation
Thursday, 20 July 2006
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Thursday, 20 July 2006
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
This presentation is part of : Poster Presentations II
The Relationship Between Nurse Empowerment and Self-Actualization
Kim L. Wolfe, RN, MSN1, Susan Fetzer, RN, PhD2, Dorothy Rentschler, RN, PhD3, and Diana Crowell, RN, PhD2. (1) Nursing, Cheshire Medical Center, Keene, NH, USA, (2) Nursing, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA, (3) Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
Learning Objective #1: identify the factors which contribute to empowerment and self-actualization of registered nurses and the implications of such for nursing practice.
Learning Objective #2: consider how transformational leadership can be utilized to create an environment which promotes self-actualization and empowerment among registered nurses.
Purpose:  A key Magnet characteristic is the presence of staff empowerment fostering job satisfaction and organizational commitment.  Empowered nurses effectively utilize professional judgment and expertise and are able to function autonomously to provide quality care.  Efforts to empower nurses tend to focus solely on improving workplace conditions while scant research has focused on the characteristics of the individual.  The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between empowerment and self-actualization of registered nurses.

Theoretical Framework:  Kanter’s theory of structural power in organizations and Maslow’s hierarchal theory of motivation were linked to provide the framework for the study.  According to Kanter, empowered employees are highly motivated, better able to adapt to changes, have a high morale and self-esteem.  Self-actualized persons, according to Maslow, have similar characteristics.

Methods (Design, Sample, Setting, Measures, Analysis):  A quantitative correlational design was used to randomly sample 500 nurses from the 7,000 name mailing list of the New Hampshire Nurses Association.  A return rate of 40% yielded a sample size of 126 subjects who provided data via mailed questionnaire.  Empowerment was measured using the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire-II (CWEQ-II), the Job Activities Scale-II (JAS-II), and the Organizational Relationships Scale-II (ORS-II).  Self-actualization was measured by the Short Index of Self-Actualization (SISA).

Results:  The nurses in this study reported a moderate degree of empowerment and a moderate degree of self-actualization.  A small but positive correlation (r = .207, p < .05) between nurse empowerment and perceived self-actualization was identified.Conclusions and Implications:  Registered nurses who have achieved self-actualization are more likely to perceive empowerment.  The findings provide additional evidence to consider the key role of transformational leadership.  Transformational leaders provide vision, build confidence, use inspiration to increase optimism and enthusiasm, and provide intellectual stimulation and individual consideration.  Qualities of transformational leaders create an environment that will promote self-actualization and empowerment.

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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)