A Concept Analysis for Improving Working Conditions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2520-5293/1459Keywords:
concept analysis, improvement of work conditionsAbstract
Improving working conditions is a concept of significance in the workplace, particularly in the public health setting. This is because working conditions in public hospitals have been described in literature as horrendous, and have a direct impact on the employees and patients’ health and safety outcomes. However, despite these poor working conditions, attempts to rectify the situation in public hospitals are directed to only a few aspects of working conditions such as salaries and long working hours instead of adopting a systematic approach which will target the multifaceted and interrelated aspects of working conditions. The poor working conditions in public hospitals and their effects on the health and safety of both employees and patients in health settings call for clarification of the concept “improving working conditionsâ€. Clarification of the concept will clear the confusion regarding its meaning in healthcare settings, particularly in nursing. It will also assist healthcare workers, researchers and policymakers to direct their interventions on all issues that have an impact on working conditions. This paper explores the meaning of the concept of improving working conditions in the context of public hospitals.
Metrics
References
Aiken, L. H. 2012. “Patient Safety, Satisfaction, and Quality of Hospital Care: Cross Sectional Surveys of Nurses and Patients in 12 Countries in Europe and the United States.†BMJ 344:e1717. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e1717
American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 2nd ed. (2000), s.vv. “conditions,†“work.â€
Bae, S. 2011. “Assessing the Relationships between Nurse Working Conditions and Patient Outcomes: Systematic Literature Review.†Journal of Nursing Management 19 (6): 700–713. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01291.x
Bakotić, D., and T. Babić. 2013. “Relationship between Working Conditions and Job Satisfaction: The Case of Croatian Shipbuilding Company.†International Journal of Business and Social Science 4 (2): 206–213.
Batalden, P. B., and F. Davidoff. 2007. “What is ‘Quality Improvement’ and How can it Transform Healthcare?†BMJ Quality and Safety 16 (1): 2–3. https://doi.org/10.1136/qshc.2006.022046
Berry, B., M. Smylie, and E. Fuller. 2008. “Understanding Teacher Working Conditions: A Review and Look to the Future.†Report prepared for the Spencer Foundation. Hillsborough, NC: Center for Teaching Quality.
Berwick, D. M. 2008. Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Keynote Address 20th Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care. Nashville, 10 December 2008.
Blackwell’s Nursing Dictionary, 2nd ed. (2005), s.v. “condition.â€
Caspers, L. and S. Frey. 2010. “Employability and best practices in Europe.†Zuyd University of Applied Sciences Heerlen: the Netherlands. (Thesis project).
England, G. W., and I. Harpaz. 1990. “How Working Is Defined: National Contexts and Demographic and Organizational Role Influences.†Journal of Organizational Behavior 11 (4): 253–266. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.4030110402
Green, J. 2005. “Moonlighting Nurses Costing Gauteng Millions.†http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/moonlighting-nurses-costing-gauteng-millions-251358 (accessed 8 July 2017).
Hickam, D. H., S. Severance, A. Feldstein, L. Ray, P. Gorman, S. Schuldheis, W. R. Hersh, K. P. Krages, and M. Helfand. 2003. “The Effect of Health Care Working Conditions on Patient Safety.†https://archive.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/work/work.pdf (accessed 21 March 2008).
Kahya, E. 2007. “The Effects of Job Performance on Effectiveness.†International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 39 (1): 96–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2008.06.006
Kekana, H., E. du Rand, and N. van Wyk. 2007. “Job Satisfaction of Registered Nurses in a Community Hospital in the Limpopo Province in South Africa.†Curationis 30 (2): 24–35. https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v30i2.1068
King, G. Collins Good Writing Guide: The Essential Guide to Good Writing. Harper Collins, 2003.
Kirwan, M., A. Matthews, and P. A. Scott. 2013. “The Impact of the Work Environment of Nurses on Patient Safety Outcomes: A Multi-level Modelling Approach.†International Journal of Nursing Studies 50 (2): 253–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.08.020
Kisa, S., A. Kisa, and M. Younis, 2009. “A Discussion of Job Dissatisfaction and Burnout among Public Hospital Physicians.†International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 47 (4): 104–111. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2009.10708168
Lalluka, T., S. Sarlio-Lähteenkorva, E. Roos, M. Laaksonen, O. Rahkonen, and E. Lahelma. 2004. “Working Conditions and Health Behaviours among Employed Women and Men: The Helsinki Health Study.†Preventive Medicine 38 (1): 48–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2003.09.027
Lee, R. B. 1979. The!Kung San: Men, Women and Work in a Foraging Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Manyisa, Z. M. 2014. “A Conceptual Model for Improving Working Conditions in Public Hospitals in Mpumalanga Province: An Occupational Health and Safety Perspective.†PhD thesis, University of Limpopo (Medunsa).
Manyisa, Z. M. 2016. “The Current Status of Working Conditions in Public Hospitals, South Africa: Part 1.†Journal of Human Ecology 56 (1, 2): 220–231. https://repository.nwu.ac.za/handle/10394/24241?
Morin, E. M. 2004. “The Meaning of Work in Modern Times.†Speech delivered at 10th World Congress on Human Resources Management. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Morrison, R. L. 2008. “Negative Relationships in the Workplace: Associations with Organisational Commitment, Cohesion, Job Satisfaction and Intention to Turnover.†Journal of Management and Organization 14:330–344. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1833367200003126
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 5th ed. (1994), s.vv. “improve,†“work.â€
Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, (2003), s.v. “weorc.†https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780192830982.001.0001
‎
Parsons, J. A., J. M. Eakin, R. S. Bell, R. L. Franche, and A. M. Davis. 2008. “’So, are You Back to Work Yet?’ Re-conceptualizing ‘Work’ and ‘Return to Work’ in the Context of Primary Bone Cancer.†Social Science and Medicine 67 (11): 1826–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.09.011
Prüss-Üstün, A., and C. Corvalán. 2006. “Preventing Disease through Healthy Environments.†Geneva: World Health Organization.
Rispel, L. C., and J. Moorman. 2015. “The Indirect Costs of Agency Nurses in South Africa: A Case Study in Two Public Sector Hospitals.†Global Health Action 8. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v8.26494
Seacole, M. 1857. Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands. London: James Blackwood Paternoster Row.
Sleutel, M. R. 2000. “Climate, Culture, Context, or Work Environment? Organizational Factors that Influence Nursing Practice.†Journal of Nursing Administration 30 (2): 53–58. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005110-200002000-00002
South Africa. 1993. Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act No. 85 of 1993). http://www.gov.za/documents/occupational-health-and-safety-act (accessed 12 June 2014).
Thesaurus, s.vv. “work,†“working conditions,†accessed 30 November 2014, http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/reference.
Van Der Doef, M., F. B. Mbazzi, and C. Verhoeven. 2012. “Job Conditions, Job Satisfaction, Somatic Complaints and Burnout among East African Nurses.†Journal of Clinical Nursing 21 (11–12): 1763–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03995.x
Waddell, G., and A. K. Burton. 2006. Is Work Good for Your Health and Well-being? London: The Stationery Office.
Walker, L., and K. Avant. 2011. Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing. 5th ed. Boston: Prentice Hall.
WHO (World Health Organization. 2013. “WHO Nursing and Midwifery Progress Report 2008–2012.†www.who.int/hrh/nursing_midwifery/progress_report/en/ (accessed 8 July 2017).
Wong, C. A., G. G. Cummings, and L. Ducharme. 2013. “The Relationship between Nursing Leadership and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review Update.†Journal of Nursing Management 21 (5): 709–724. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12116
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Accepted 2017-07-10
Published 2018-01-10
