Critical issues in nursing: the need for a change in the work environment

Analysis of the results indicated that the conceptual model was a good fit to the data supplied for registered nurses from seven work practice areas in the state of New South Wales and implications for a change in the work environment are discussed.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop and statistically analyse a conceptual model of nurturing relationships in nursing. The conceptual model was formulated a priori and was based on both conceptual and empirical nursing literature. The study objectives were to: 1) develop a conceptual framework of nurturing developmental relationships from a review of personality, preceptorship and mentorship studies; 2) identify reliable indicators to measure the abstract constructs; 3) statistically analyse the conceptual model from data provided by registered nurses in New South Wales; and 4) expand the conceptual model through the development of the theoretical links between the abstract constructs based on the research findings from the study of the two groups. The study population was selected by means of stratification and random selection and was drawn from the nursing population in hospitals and higher education institutions in New South Wales. A non-experimental retrospective research design was utilised for this study. Analysis of the conceptual model using structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed on data supplied by registered nurses (n=349). Analysis of the results indicated that the model is a good fit to the data supplied for registered nurses from seven work practice areas in the state of New South Wales. Implications for a change in the work environment are discussed.