The effect of clinical nurses’ job-esteem on work engagement: Identifying mediating and moderating effects of positive nursing organizational culture

Abstract

Abstract Background Nursing services play an important role in providing quality healthcare. However, the association of positive nursing organizational culture with job esteem and work engagement of clinical nurses is not well established. In this study, we assessed the mediating and moderating effects of positive nursing organizational culture and job esteem on work engagement among clinical nurses. Methods The study adopted a descriptive correlational design. A total of 200 nurses with more than six months’ experience at two university hospitals in Korea participated in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire which comprised questions on general characteristics of the participants, positive nursing organizational culture, the Job-Esteem Scale for Korean Nurses, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Results The results revealed that the direct effect of job esteem on work engagement, indirect effect via positive nursing organizational culture, and total effect were statistically significant. The moderating effect of positive nursing organizational culture on job esteem was not statistically significant. Conclusion The results highlight the need for a development plan to increase job esteem and create a positive nursing organizational culture to improve the work engagement of clinical nurses. Nursing colleges also need to implement measures to improve job esteem and develop step-by-step education programs, interventions, and policy support considering clinical experience. Moreover, establishment of fair procedures and appropriate compensation may boost nurses’ morale leading to increased work engagement.