Perceived Structural Empowerment, Resilience, and Intent to Stay among Midwives and Registered Nurses in Saudi Arabia: a convergent parallel mixed methods study.

Abstract

Background The retention of midwives and registered nurses in Obstetrics and Gynecology department/unit (OB/GYN) is not just a matter of organizational effectiveness and financial wellness. It's a crucial aspect of ensuring quality healthcare delivery. This study delves into the factors that influence retention, with a particular focus on structural empowerment and resilience. Methods The study adopted a convergent parallel mixed methods approach. The study was divided into two phases. Phase one was a cross-sectional quantitative study utilizing a convenience sample of 200 midwives and nurses in OB/GYN departments to discuss the level of structurally empowered, resilient, and committed to staying in the organization and to examine their perceptions of structural empowerment and resilience are good predictors of their decision to remain with the organization, Phase two was a qualitative study; a semi-structured, open-ended interview was adopted. Eighteen nurses and midwives purposely selected as the target population were invited to participate in individual interviews and interview the Obstetrics and Gynecology department/unit participants towards their perception of the phenomenon under study. The data collection took place at three major hospitals in Saudi Arabia, commenced at the beginning of January 2023, and continued until the end of February 2023. Results The study results revealed that structural empowerment and resilience were statistically significant predictors of the intent to stay in the organization (F = 35.216, p < 0.001), with 26.3% variation, the structural empowerment is higher predictor (β = 0.486) to intent to stay if compared to resilience (β = 0.215). Five major themes emerged from the narratives of the nurses and midwives: the nurturing of the physical and physiological, the developing the psychological, the managing Financial, the restructuring of the organization, and the enriching of the professional and occupational. Conclusion The study's findings have significant implications for healthcare organizations. They highlight the importance of cultivating a culture of empowerment and resilience, which can serve as a powerful tool to encourage registered nurses and midwives to remain in their organization. This insight empowers healthcare administrators, human resource managers, and professionals in the field of obstetrics and gynecology to take proactive steps toward improving retention rates.