The relationship between perceived organizational support and psychological empowerment among nurses in selected South African public hospitals

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Orientation Psychological empowerment is essential for improving employee effectiveness in demanding work environments such as public healthcare, where organizational support plays an important role in shaping employees’ work experiences. Research purpose This study examined the relationship between perceived organizational support and psychological empowerment among nurses in the public healthcare sector. Motivation for the study South African public healthcare institutions face high workloads and resource constraints, highlighting the need to understand how organizational support improves employees’ psychological functioning. Research approach/design and method A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 230 nurses using a structured questionnaire and analysed using the SPSS Version 27. Main findings The results indicated a significant positive relationship between perceived organizational support and psychological empowerment, indicating that higher organizational support is associated with greater empowerment among nurses. Practical/managerial implications The results suggest that healthcare management should prioritize supportive organizational practices, such as recognition, communication, and professional development, to improve employees’ sense of autonomy, competence, and impact. Contribution/value-add This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of perceived organizational support as a key driver of psychological empowerment within the South African public healthcare context.