Characteristics of nurses and hospital work environments that foster satisfaction and clinical expertise.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this aspect of a larger study was to describe characteristics of nurses and their work environment at two military hospitals.


BACKGROUND
Few studies have explored characteristics among nurses who practice in military hospitals. There is reason to believe that differences exist between nurses who work in military and civilian hospitals, some of which are required educational level, leadership experience, officer status, and career development opportunities.


METHODS
A descriptive design was used to address how military and civilian nurses who work in military hospitals describe their autonomy, control over practice, nurse-physician collaboration, and clinical expertise and what relationships exist among these variables.


RESULTS
Scores on autonomy, control over practice, and nurse-physician relationships all were above midpoint for all respondents as a group, indicating positive work environments in both of the military hospitals studied. Scores from the clinical expertise instrument were well above midpoint, indicating a desirable level of clinical expertise. These findings all reflect favorably on the military hospital work environment.


CONCLUSIONS
This information will help to make a case for instituting or preserving those nursing processes that are effective and for identifying and working to change nursing processes that are not effective. Nurses will benefit by having a more collaborative work environment.
Foley
Barbara Jo
BJ
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7460, USA. bfoley@email.unc.edu
Kee
Carolyn C
CC
Minick
Ptlene
P
Harvey
Susan S
SS
Jennings
Bonnie M
BM
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000592:standards*; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007587:Job Description; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008888:Military Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*