RN work engagement in generational cohorts: the view from rural US hospitals

Aim To describe staff nurse work engagement, identify predictors by generational cohort, present implications for nurse managers and suggest future research. Background A global nurse shortage looms. While an adequate supply of nurses is needed to ensure access to care, access to quality care may be enhanced by an adequate supply of highly engaged nurses—those who are dedicated, energized, and absorbed. Nurses have long reported the presence of energy depleting practice environments. Nurses practicing in professional practice environments may be more engaged. Methods A non‐experimental survey design was executed. Direct care Registered Nurses (n = 747) working in five rural acute care hospitals completed questionnaires to assess work engagement (Utrecht Work Engagement Scale‐9), decisional involvement (Decisional Involvement Scale), relational coordination (Relational Coordination Survey) and the nursing practice environment (Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index). Descriptive, correlational and regression analyses examined work engagement and predictors by generational cohort. Results With the exception of the absorption component, no statistically significant differences in engagement emerged across generational cohorts. Predictors of engagement differed by cohort, however across all cohorts, professional nursing practice environments predicted nurse work engagement. Conclusions Professional nursing practice environments are significantly associated with nurse work engagement. Implications for nursing management Enhancing nurse work engagement is a complex challenge. Generational cohorts may respond to different strategies to enhance engagement.