Meaning in Work in Nursing as a Positive Personal Attribute.

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation was to introduce the concept of meaning in work and to provide evidence for why the concept is important in nursing. The specific aims were to: (1) develop and test an instrument to measure meaning in work, (2) explore direct relationships between meaning in work and nursing outcomes (job satisfaction, burnout), and (3) explore indirect relationships among meaning in work, the nursing work environment, and nursing outcomes (job satisfaction, burnout). Data were collected from surveys mailed to a convenience sample of 500 registered nurses (RNs) randomly selected from an RN list from the North Carolina Board of Nursing. To develop an instrument to measure theoretical constructs of meaning in work, items from four instruments used to measure meaning in the workplace were selected. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test construct validity of the new instrument. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed to explore relationships among meaning in work, the nursing work environment, job satisfaction, and burnout. A total of 158 RNs were included in data analysis. The newly developed instrument of meaning in work consisted of 25 items in four sub-scales. CFA supported construct validity (CFI=.907, RMSEA=.080) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=.95) of the instrument. SEM supported (1) a positive relationship between meaning in work and job satisfaction (β =.67, SE=.05), (2) an inverse relationship between meaning in work and burnout (β =-.55, SE=.06), and (3) indirect relationships of meaning in work to job satisfaction (β =.35, SE=.11) and burnout (β =-.49, SE=.13), mediated by the nursing work environment. The results of this study supported hypothesized models, showing (1) significant direct relationships between meaning in work, job satisfaction, and burnout, and (2) an indirect positive relationship between meaning in work and job satisfaction, mediated by the nursing work environment and an indirect inverse relationship between meaning in work and burnout, mediated by the nursing work environment. Meaning in work is a positive personal attribute that provides a motivational force to work, and moreover has a possible role in positively influencing nurses’ perceptions of the nursing work environment and creating healthy nursing work environments.