Factors in the Perioperative Nurses’ Work Environment That Predict Work Engagement

Abstract

Perioperative nurse engagement and certification are associated with a culture of safety, which is crucial in perioperative environments. Therefore, examining relationships between engagement, the practice environment, and certification is warranted. The purposes of this study were to examine the relationships between the perioperative practice environment and reported nurse engagement, determine differences in engagement based on certification, and identify facilitators and barriers to attaining and sustaining certification. In this multiphase mixed‐methods study, we used a convenience sample of perioperative nurses (N = 379) to examine relationships between engagement, the practice environment, and certification. Qualitative interviews were conducted (n = 15) to supplement the quantitative findings. Leadership support (β = 0.23, P = .001) and nursing foundations for quality care (β = 0.21, P = .01) were significant predictors of engagement. Certified nurses did not have significantly higher mean engagement scores when compared with noncertified peers. Qualitative interviews corroborated the findings.