Environmental congruence and work-related stress in acute care hospital medical/surgical units: a descriptive, correlational study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the degree to which Environmental Congruence (EC) is present in sampled units and considered important/desirable by staff RNs; staff RNs' reported level of work-related stress (WRS); the perceived contribution of the physical environment to WRS; and the relationship between existing levels of EC and WRS.


BACKGROUND
Few studies have focused on how the physical environment might contribute to nurses' WRS and chronic nursing shortages. The construct of EC can be used, within a Person Environment (PE)-Fit framework, to assess the fit among nurses, nursing work, the physical work environment, and WRS.


METHODS
EC was measured using investigator-developed, literature/criterion-based survey instruments. Staff RNs reported WRS variables by using two single-item self-report measures. The final convenience sample consisted of 471 staff RNs from 39 medical/surgical units from 12 hospitals in the upper Midwest. Data were collected over a 7-month period.


RESULTS
The mean level of existing EC in the sample was roughly 70% percent of highest capacity and that of important/desired EC in the sample was 93%. Staff RNs' mean level of WRS was 6.7; the mean contribution of the physical environment to WRS was 5.8. Moderate negative correlations were found between EC and WRS (r = -.41, p < .05), and between physical environment contribution to WRS and EC (r = -.55, p <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Staff RNs in the sampled units wanted a significantly higher level of EC. They rated their WRS moderately high and the contribution of the physical environment to it as moderate. A moderately negative relationship was found between EC and WRS. EC may be a useful construct in research that attempts to improve hospital nursing work environments.
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI, USA. ndendaas@uwhealth.org
Nancy
N
Dendaas
D000328:Adult; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*