Socio-demographic predictors of structural empowerment among newly qualified nurses: Findings from an international survey

OBJECTIVE: To examine the socio-demographic predictors of structural empowerment among an international sample of newly qualified nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 367 newly qualified nurses with up to 18 months of clinical experience. The nurses were recruited from 15 acute care hospitals across KSA, Jordan, and the UK. Data analysis was conducted using the t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences in the total structural empowerment score were found among participants based on the type of universities where they graduated from (t = 2.36, p < 0.05), if they have received assertive communication training during undergraduate nursing education (t = 3.53, p < 0.05), number of months as qualified nurses (F = 4.79, p < 0.05), type of clinical ward settings they were working in (F = 5.1, p < 0.05), and the country where they were recruited from (F = 14.66) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the country, type of clinical ward settings they were working in, and type of the university the participants graduated from were found to be significant predictors of the participants’ total structural empowerment score (F = 16.6, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the unique contributions of the cultural contexts, type of clinical ward setting, and type of former educational setting towards the level of structural empowerment among newly qualified nurses.