Nurse safety outcomes: old problem, new solution - the differentiating roles of nurses' psychological capital and managerial support.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the impacts of nurses' psychological capital and managerial support, plus specific safety interventions (managerial safety priorities, safety training satisfaction), on nurses' in-role safety performance.


BACKGROUND
Most hospitals in industrialized countries have adopted selective (often the least costly) aspects of safety, usually related to safety policies. However, patient safety remains a challenge in many countries. Research shows that training can be used to upskill employees in psychological capital, with statistically significant organizational and employee benefits, but this area is under-researched in nursing.


METHODS
Data were collected using a survey-based, self-report strategy. The emerging patterns of data were then compared with the findings of previous research.


METHODS
Quantitative survey data were collected during 2014 from 242 nurses working in six Australian hospitals. Two models were tested and analysed using covariance-based Structural Equation Modelling.


RESULTS
Psychological capital and safety training satisfaction were important predictors of nurses' in-role safety performance and as predictors of nurses' perceptions of whether management implements what it espouses about safety ('managerial safety priorities'). Managerial support accounted for just under a third of psychological capital and together, psychological capital and managerial support, plus satisfaction with safety training, were important to nurses' perceptions of in-role safety performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Organizations are likely to benefit from upskilling nurses and their managers to increase nurses' psychological capital and managerial support, which then will enhance nurses' satisfaction with training and in-role safety performance perceptions.
Southern Cross University, Bilinga, Queensland, Australia.
Yvonne
Y
Brunetto
Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
Matthew
M
Xerri
Management Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ben
B
Farr-Wharton
Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia. k.shacklock@griffith.edu.au.
Kate
K
Shacklock
Sunshine Coast University, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.
Rod
R
Farr-Wharton
SDA Bocconi, Milan, Italy.
Elisabetta
E
Trinchero
D001315:Australia; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D061214:Patient Safety; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires

LMX
; in-role performance; individual support; managerial support; nurses; psychological capital; safety culture; safety outcomes; safety priorities; safety training