Preconditions for nurses' perceived organizational support in healthcare: a qualitative explorative study

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to inductively explore the context-specific preconditions for nurses' perceived organizational support (POS) in healthcare organizations.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative interview study was performed, based on the critical incident technique (CIT), with 24 registered nurses in different specialities of hospital care.FindingsThe nurses perceived three actors as essential for their POS: the first-line manager, the overarching organization and their college. The preconditions affecting the nurses’ perceptions of organizational support were supportive structuring and structures at work, as well as individual recognition and professional acknowledgement.Originality/valuePrevious studies of POS have mostly had a quantitative outset. In this paper, context-specific preconditions for nurses' POS are described in depth, enabled by the qualitative approach of the study. The findings may be used to guide healthcare organizations and managers aiming to foster nurses' POS, and thereby, benefit nurses' well-being and retention, as well as healthcare quality and efficiency.

Managing health care under heavy stress: Effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on care unit managers' ability to support the nurses—A mixed‐methods approach

“…Previous research has identified care unit managers as central to the provision of such working conditions (Gadolin et al, 2021). As such, nurses' sound working conditions are largely dependent on their care unit manager's ability to be available at the care unit and support the nurses.…”

“…Given that care unit managers are central actors to ensure nurses' sound working conditions, both in general (Gadolin et al, 2021) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Cho et al, 2021;Qotimah et al, 2022), understanding how such pressure influences care unit managers' ability to support the nurses, and organizational stressors and resources that influence this ability, may provide health care organizations with valuable knowledge to meet future crises.…”

“…Therefore, ensuring working conditions that support nurses' ability to perform their work is essential for efficient and high‐quality health care. Previous research has identified care unit managers as central to the provision of such working conditions (Gadolin et al, 2021 ). As such, nurses' sound working conditions are largely dependent on their care unit manager's ability to be available at the care unit and support the nurses.…”

“…The COVID‐19 pandemic also imposed heavy demands on care unit managers who were compelled to constantly adapt to changes and manage uncertainty (Vázquez‐Calatayud et al, 2022 ) and balance the often contradictory needs of the nursing staff and top management (Bianchi et al, 2021 ), often while experiencing increased levels of stress and exhaustion (White, 2021 ). Given that care unit managers are central actors to ensure nurses' sound working conditions, both in general (Gadolin et al, 2021 ) and during the COVID‐19 pandemic (Cho et al, 2021 ; Qotimah et al, 2022 ), understanding how such pressure influences care unit managers' ability to support the nurses, and organizational stressors and resources that influence this ability, may provide health care organizations with valuable knowledge to meet future crises.…”

How do healthcare unit managers promote nurses' perceived organizational support, and which working conditions enable them to do so? A mixed methods approach

“…This calls for qualitative studies to contextualize the POS antecedents. In one of very few such studies, Gadolin et al (2021) described organizational structures and structuration that supported nurses' POS. The study also highlighted the importance for nurses' POS, of the organization conveying individual recognition and professional acknowledgement, and offered contextualized descriptions of how this could be done convincingly.…”