title: Nurse perceptions of the quality of patient care: Confirming the importance of empowerment and job satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This aim of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of psychological empowerment and job satisfaction on the relationship between high-performance work systems (HPWS) and nurses' perceptions of the quality of patient care they provide.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Studies of high-performing organizations in a variety of industries have consistently reported a positive relationship between HPWS and performance outcomes. Although many of these studies have been conducted in manufacturing, similar findings of a positive correlation between aspects of HPWS and improved patient outcomes have been reported in international health care studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used regression analysis with tests of mediation and moderation to analyze survey responses collected in March 2008 of 201 nurses in a large regional Australian health service.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psychological empowerment fully mediated the relationship between HPWS and perceptions of quality of patient care. Job satisfaction moderated the relationship between HPWS and perceptions of quality of patient care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospital managers should focus on promoting HPWS and ensuring that nurse unit managers have the competencies to empower and to enhance the job satisfaction of their staff.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia. s.leggat@latrobe.edu.au
authors.forename: Sandra G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Leggat
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartram
authors.forename: Gian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casimir
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D013192:Staff Development / Q000592:standards*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome