Personal and organizational factors related to initiative behavior among psychiatric nurses.

Abstract

To identify the degree of personal initiative (PI) among psychiatric nurses and to examine the influence of personal and organizational characteristics on their PI. Ninety-seven nurses completed a questionnaire on PI, work climate, self-efficacy toward initiatives and innovations, nursing work environment, and actual initiative at work. Differences in actual initiative at work according to the level of education, and negative association between PI and age were found. Self-efficacy and work climate explained 56% of PI; self-efficacy, work climate, and age explained 30% of initiative behavior. Investing in young nurses, fostering higher education, and creating supportive work environment can help in conversion of innovative vision into actual initiatives.