Perceived level of nurse-physician relationship and work engagement among nurses in public hospitals in Iloilo

Abstract

This descriptive-relational study was conducted using a one-shot survey design to determine nurse-physician relationship and work engagement of nurses in public hospitals in Iloilo. All the staff, head/senior, and contractual nurses currently working in government hospitals were respondents of this study. A total of 109 nurses participated as respondents.

The results of this study showed that majority of the respondents were 35 years old or younger and predominantly female. Most of them are bachelor’s degree holders and have served in the hospital for 10 years or less. Further, in terms of the respondents working relationship with physicians more than half of them have a fair working relationship with physicians. The majority (91.8) strongly agreed or agreed that they have an open communication with physicians in their unit and that they can easily talk to them (93.6 percent). While little more than one-half (55 percent) of the nurses disagreed that they often received correct information from the physicians. In terms of work engagement, a high percentage (98.2 percent) of the respondents expressed that they are proud of the work that they do and find the work full of meaning and purpose (98.1 percent). Majority of the staff nurses (92.7 percent) are engaged from their work. The nurses’ personal characteristics, such as age, sex, educational attainment and length of service have nothing to do with their working relationship with doctors. Therefore, personal factors do not influence the working relationship between nurses and doctors. On the other hand age and educational attainment are related to the nurses work engagement. The older the nurse and the higher their education, the more they are engaged in their profession. Statistical analysis showed a substantial correlation between work engagement and level of nurse-physician relationship. It can be deduced that working relationship between nurses and doctors may or may not influence the nurses work engagement. Working relationship between nurses and physician may affect how strongly engaged they are in their work. This may be considered as a factor which may affect their working environment.