Relation between Level of Empowerment and Problem-Solving Abilities of Nurses at Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Background: Nurses in specialty areas as the intensive care units are susceptible to workplace stress due to facing many challenges that make them have to create work place that is optimal for provision of nursing care by motivating, empowering their nurses and problem-solving skills through learning problem solving and decision making process to act independently and autonomously. Aim: This study aimed to assess relation between level of empowerment and problem solving abilities of nurses at intensive care units. Nurses Empowerment Structured Questionnaire Sheet, Tool (II) Nurses' Problem Solving Abilities Questionnaire. Results: Nearly one half (45.6%) of nurses had low level of empowerment. While, more than one third (36.9%) of them had moderate level of empowerment. High percent (60.3%) had moderate levels of problem solving abilities. While, more than one quarter (26.4%) had low levels of problem solving abilities. Conclusion: There were statistically positive correlation between overall nurses' empowerment including autonomy, participation, responsibility and overall nurses' problem solving abilities including problem solving confidence, approach avoidance style, personal control at p(<0.001). Recommendation: It was recommended that encouraging learning system and training program for nurses regarding effective autonomy and empowerment and participates in unit and hospital decision making process.