Work environment and workforce problems: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of hospital nurses in Belgium.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated Belgian hospital nurses' perceptions on work environment and workforce issues, quality of care, job satisfaction and professional decision making.


METHODS
All eligible nurses in a selection of 22 hospitals received the BELIMAGE questionnaire for a total of 13,958 potential respondents. Of these, 9941 returned study materials (response rate=71.2%) of which 9638 were valid and useable for statistical analysis (valid response rate=69.1%).


RESULTS
The study identified several areas of tension in the nursing profession. The commitment to being competent providers of quality care was remarkably strong among the nurses, but they also perceived the barriers in the work environment to be multiple and complex. Concerns about the quality of leadership and management, insufficient staff, time demands and stressful work environment are experienced as obstacles in providing good nursing care. Four out of ten nurses (39.2%) would not choose nursing again as a career and more than half of the nurses (54.3%) have contemplated leaving the profession at some point in time.


CONCLUSIONS
To effectively tackle the professional and workforce issues in nursing, investments should focus on redesigning a work environment that supports nurses in providing comprehensive professional care.
Milisen
Koen
K
Centre for Health Services and Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium; Division of Geriatrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abraham
Ivo
I
Siebens
Kaat
K
Darras
Elisabeth
E
Dierckx de Casterlé
Bernadette
B
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000592:standards; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017748:Time Management; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*