Factors affecting organizational commitment of general hospital nurses in small and medium sized cities

Abstract

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the relationships between nursing work environment, leader-member exchange(LMX), peer support, and organizational commitment in one city with a severe nurse shortage. Methods: Participants were 198 nurses who had worked for more than 6 months with the same head nurse. They worked in five general hospitals located in one city. In April 2016 participants completed a survey questionnaire about their nursing work environment, LMX, peer support, and organizational commitment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: There was a significant difference in nursing work environment by experience of turnover (t=-2.58, p=.010). LMX showed significant difference by department (F=3.81, p=.011). Factors influencing nurses’ organizational commitment were nurse participation in hospital affairs (β=.23, p=.028) and nurse manager ability, leadership and support (β=.18, p=.022). Explanatory power was 18.2% in the regression model. Conclusion: The results suggest that it is necessary to improve the nursing work environment in order to increase organizational commitment. Improvement of the nursing system should be considered along with supplementation of nurses particularly during a severe nurse shortage.