Perceived workenvironment and associated factors among nurses working in jimma university medical center, oromia regional state, south-west Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Nurse Workenvironment can be described as the system that supports nurses’ control over the delivery of nursing care, the environment in which care is delivered and the characteristics of an organization that facilitate or constrain professional nursing practice. Perception towards nurse work environment can be affected by many factors like organizational support, autonomy and collegial relationship. Objective:The main objective of this study was to assess perceived work environment and associated factors among nurses working in Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma town, south west Ethiopia. Methods:Institutionalbased cross-sectional studydesign with quantitative data collection methodwasusedfrom March 15 to 27, 2018. Data was collected by using a modifiednurse work index questionnaire.250 participantswere included in the study by simple random sampling technique using computer generated random numbers. Data was entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exportedto SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and results of the study. Linear regressionwas used to determine significant associations among the variables.Finally p-value of <0.05 at 95% CI was used to declare statistical significance. Results were presented in text, tables, and figures. Result:More than half (54%) of the respondents had low perception regarding their work environment. Control over the practice setting, autonomy and nurse physician relationship had significant association with perception towards nurse work environment.(R2 =0.562, p=<0.001, 95% CI). Conclusion and Recommendation:Over all nurses’ perception towards work environment was low.There were significant associations between perceptions towards nurse work environment and autonomy, control over the practice setting and nurse-physician relationship.To increase the level of perceptions towards nurse work environment among nurses, the hospital administrator should work on enhancing nurse-physician relationship, autonomy and control over the practice setting.