title: Praise matters: the influence of nurse unit managers' praise on nurses' practice, work environment and job satisfaction: a questionnaire study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between praise from nurse unit managers and job satisfaction, professional practice, workload, work climate and organizational commitment of nurses caring for surgical patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Praise influences experiences of employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web-based, cross-sectional explorative survey design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured questionnaire was used to measure praise given by nurse unit managers as perceived by nurses (n = 383; 49% response rate) working with surgical patients. Data were collected between December 2009-January 2010. Several variables assessed the major concepts under study. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to compare nurses who receive praise very rarely/rarely as compared with very often/rather often.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Praise was received often/very often by 31·6% of participants. Compared with nurses receiving praise rarely/very rarely those who received it often/rather showed more job satisfaction, stated they had more opportunities to practice professionally, described a more positive work climate and were more committed to the organization such as being proud to work at and willing to make effort for the unit and hospital. There was no difference between the groups regarding workload. Main findings of the regression analysis were that nurses display their organizational commitment by not thinking about leaving the current workplace and those who value professional recognition are likelier to receive praise than their counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse unit managers should praise their staff in a realistic fashion. Such praise is cost-effective, takes short time, produces positive influences on members of their staff and may improve patient safety.
authors.affiliation: University of Iceland, Faculty of Nursing, Reykjavík, Iceland.|Landspitali University Hospital, Surgical Services, Reykjavík, Iceland.
authors.forename: Herdís
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sveinsdóttir
authors.affiliation: Landspitali University Hospital, Surgical Services, Reykjavík, Iceland.
authors.forename: Erla Dögg
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Ragnarsdóttir
authors.affiliation: University of Iceland, Faculty of Nursing, Reykjavík, Iceland.|Landspitali University Hospital, Surgical Services, Reykjavík, Iceland.
authors.forename: Katrín
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blöndal
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: job satisfaction; nurse unit manager; nursing management; nursing practice; praise; recognition; servant leadership; surgical nursing; work environment