Psychological empowerment and job crafting among registered nurses working in public health: A quantitative study

Abstract

Background and objectivesThe researchers examine the relationship between two variables related to work meaningfulness and engagement – psychological empowerment and job crafting – among Ontario registered nurses working in public health. Research design and methodsThis quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in Ontario, Canada with registered nurses (n = 238) from six randomly selected health units. Registered nurses provided quantitative ratings of their psychological empowerment and job crafting behaviours in an online, confidential, anonymous survey. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, multiple and hierarchical regressions, and independent samples t-tests. ResultsSignificant, positive relationships were observed between overall scores for psychological empowerment and job crafting (r = 0.50, n = 238, p < .01) and for each of their dimensions. Region, age, job, and public health experience explained 26 % of the variance in overall psychological empowerment; job crafting accounted for an additional 24 % of variance. Region and public health experience moderated the relationship between psychological empowerment and job crafting. Discussion and implicationsRegistered nurses working in public health experience empowerment when they engage in job crafting. Nurse managers and educators can support and promote job crafting by nurses who are willing to engage and make their jobs more meaningful.What is already known about this topic?•Traditional job design is done by organizations, whereas job crafting is done by employees.•Job crafting is about proactively adjusting and redesigning one's own job.•Job crafting is facilitated by managerial support, nurses' experience, and sufficient staffing.What this paper adds•Overall, public health nurses are actively crafting their jobs and feel empowered.•A significant positive relationship between job crafting and empowerment is moderated by geographic location and public health experience.•Psychological empowerment is explained not only by demographic characteristics but also, and to a great extent, by job crafting.