Staff Nurses` Perception of Shared Governance and its Relation to their Work Engagement at Critical Care Units

Shared governance is a structure that places staff at the center of the decisionmaking process, it is an ongoing process that should be embedded in an organization to be a successful setting also it is a vehicle that can be used to increase work engagement among nurses so that it is vital to improve nursing, clients and organizational outcomes that ultimately advance health care within our communities. Aim: The present study aimed to assess staff nurses' perception of shared governance and its relation to their work engagement at critical care units. Research Design: Descriptive correlational research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The study was conducted in critical care units at Benha University Hospital. Sample: Convenience sample consisted of 130 staff nurses who worked at the previously mentioned setting. Tools of data collection: Data was collected through two main tools namely (I) Index of Professional Nursing Governance Questionnaire (IPNGQ) and (II) Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). Results: The findings of this study showed that about half of staff nurses (47.7%) reported for shared governance. And about two third of staff nurses (63.2%) had high level of engagement regarding their work. Conclusion: About half of staff nurses had reported for shared governance and about two thirds of staff nurses had high level of engagement regarding their work. There was a positive highly statistical significant correlation between nurses' perception of shared governance and their level of work engagement. Recommendations: Hospital administrators should provide nursing staff with professional development to enhance their engagement. Hospital administrators should maintain supportive work environment and encourage staff nurses to share in decisions.