Registered nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, and organizational culture in hospitals.

Abstract

This study investigated "thinking and behavioral" styles that are used to measure the concept of organizational culture among registered nurses (RNs) and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) in acute care hospitals. The Organizational Culture Inventory has been used in numerous industries, including hospitals, to describe aspects of organizational culture in order to better understand and manage change. Evidence shows that nursing unit and hospital culture tends to be "constructive" but little evidence indicates whether workers in different job categories influence the culture differently. This survey was conducted in five tertiary care hospitals on the west coast of the United States. The design is cross-sectional and analytic. A convenience sample was recruited from staff members working at least 20 hours per week in the adult medical-surgical and specialty nursing units. Analyses include descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Staff members of color, regardless of position, scored higher on the thinking and behavioral styles of approval, avoidance, and competitiveness. Unlicensed assistive personnel, regardless of race or ethnicity, scored higher on the thinking and behavioral styles dependence and opposition. Nurse administrators and managers should be aware of how the addition of unlicensed assistive personnel or people of color can change the culture of the nursing unit or hospital. Explicit management strategies may be necessary to promote employee behaviors that are desirable for patient care and for the organization.