THE EFFECT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ON THE EGO DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF NURSES (ADULT).
Contributors: Boston College.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 144
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The researcher is interested in the impact of the work environment on adult development. Health care delivery systems form the basis for analysis of the work environment. Measurements of ego development levels of staff nurses is the basis for analysis of adult development.

This study was undertaken to determine the relationships between adult development of the ego and the individual's perception of job satisfaction. Ego development, job satisfaction, indices of autonomy, and opportunities for learning were compared and analyzed within three health care delivery systems. The main focus of this analysis was on the evaluation and measurement of organizational climate variables and measurement of ego development levels of staff nurses who are in direct contact with patients.

The sample was comprised of one hundred (100) registered nurses practicing direct "hands on" patient care in three types of care delivery systems: (1) university medical center-teaching hospitals in urban settings (two facilities were selected), (2) community hospitals in the suburbs (three facilities were selected), and (3) outpatient home care agencies (two agencies were selected). Data were collected over a two year period through face-to-face contact by this researcher with each staff nurse. The questionnaires were completed voluntarily by the staff nurses in their work environment. Each questionnaire was hand scored by this researcher who has been trained in scoring the Sentence Completion Test (SCT). Published manuals were utilized for scoring the Organizational Climate Survey Questionnaire (OCSQ).

Two independent variables, job satisfaction and autonomy, were found significantly related to ego development levels, at P < .05. Data were analyzed within each different patient care delivery system. The findings supported the researcher's perceptions of differences within the work environment.

At present hospitals speak to the issue of employee professional growth. Many organizations offer courses and workshops for the professional development of nurses. This study is important because it helps to understand the relationship of work to the people who are part of selected work environments. Implications from this study may be drawn to create new or different learning experiences for nurses.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-08, Section: B, page: 2620.

Thesis (PH.D.)--BOSTON COLLEGE, 1985.

School code: 0016.