The Determinants of Nurses Engagement: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic literature review explores determinants of engagement among nurses across various specialties and types of care. Following PRISMA guidelines, a search and a citation chain were used. Out of the required studies, 49 were included after a citation chain. A binary literature review matrix along with a narrative-thematic synthesis identified 14 determinants and/or engagement factors: leadership, organizational support, work environment, team climate, job resources, autonomy, recognition, career growth, psychological capital, self-efficacy, resilience, meaningful work, workload stress and work-life balance. The majority of the studies cited workload stress, organizational support, job resources, the work environment, meaningful work and balance between work and personal life. Support-oriented leadership and organizational support, along with favorable practice environments and usable job resources supported professional development and meaningful work. These typically led to higher levels of engagement. On the contrary, chronic overload, worries about work, psychosocial stress, workplace violence, role stress, and lack of recuperation typically showed lower engagement. While these are generally true, some of these were inconsistent and depended on the context and the supports available. The review provides an integrated resource-demand typology and identifies areas that would benefit from longitudinal and intervention research.