Perceived Work Climate and Work Engagement Among Nurses in Hospitals in Nueva Ecija

Alday CL; Rose Ann R. Paet

Authors

Alday CL Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Rose Ann R. Paet Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology

Keywords:

Perceived Work Climate, Work Engagement, Job Demands-Resources Model, Nurses, Hospital Work Environment

Abstract

Introduction:Nurses are central to quality healthcare, yet high-pressure hospital settings may hinder their engagement. Work engagement—defined by vigor, dedication, and absorption—is key to sustaining performance and well-being. This study, grounded in the Job DemandsResources (JD-R) Model, investigated the relationship between perceived work climate and work engagement among nurses in public hospitals in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Methodology:A descriptive-correlational design was used with 120 registered nurses selected through stratified sampling from three public hospitals: Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Hospital, MV Gallego Cabanatuan City General Hospital, and San Jose City General Hospital. Data were gathered using two open-access, standardized instruments: the Areas of Worklife Scale (AWS) developed by Leiter & Maslach (Cronbach’s ? = 0.91), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale – 9 (UWES-9) by Schaufeli et al. (Cronbach’s ? = 0.93). Both tools were adopted with permission for academic research. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS v25, including descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and significance testing. Results:Nurses reported a very high level of work engagement (WM = 4.34), with Dedication being the strongest dimension (WM = 4.41). The highest-rated work climate domain was Community (WM = 4.31), reflecting strong peer support. No significant differences were found in engagement or work climate by age, sex, or civil status. A strong positive correlation was observed between work climate and engagement (r = 0.78, p < 0.01). Conclusions:Supportive work environments—especially strong community relationships—boost engagement, validating the JD-R Model’s emphasis on job resources. These findings highlight the need for interventions that promote positive work climates to enhance nurse motivation and retention.

References

Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Nachreiner, F., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2001). The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 499–512. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499

Hasselhorn, H. M., Müller, B. H., & Tackenberg, P. (2005). Working conditions and intent to leave the profession among nursing staff in Europe. European Journal of Public Health, 15(2), 114–120. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cki123

Leiter, M. P., & Maslach, C. (2004). Areas of worklife: A structured approach to organizational predictors of job burnout.

P. L. Perrewé & D. C. Ganster (2004.), Emotional and physiological processes and positive intervention strategies (Vol. 3, pp. 91–134). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1479-3555(03)03003-8

Schaufeli, W. B., Salanova, M., González-Romá, V., & Bakker, A. B. (2002). The measurement of engagement and burnout: A two sample confirmatory factor analytic approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(1), 71–92. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015630930326

World Health Organization. (2020). State of the world’s nursing 2020: Investing in education, jobs and leadership. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003279

Yildirim, D., & Aycan, Z. (2008). Nurses’ work demands and work–family conflict: A questionnaire survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45(9), 1366–1378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2007.10.010

Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397–422. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397

Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2004). Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multi-sample study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25(3), 293–315. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.248