Exploring experiences of fostering positive work environment in Norwegian nursing homes: A multi method study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to explore what characterizes the work culture in Norwegian nursing homes and what promotes the positive aspects in the work culture. Methods: Research design: Multimethod research. Two surveys (N = 105) and interviews with 11 informants at three Norwegian nursing homes were conducted. We included the questionnaires: The Systematizing Person-Group Relations, that seek to explore which aspects dominate the particular work environment identifying challenges, limitations and opportunities and The Sense of Coherence (SoC) that was used as an indicator for overall quality of working life with a salutogenic orientation. The data were analyzed using independent samples student’s t-test and factor analyses, the material from the interviews was systemized and worked through using well known analytical methods. Results: The results showed that the informants feel more meaning, manageability and comprehensibility in their work environment, when they are engaged and focused on goal orientation. In the interviews the informants expressed engagement related to their work environment and to patients and colleagues. They mentioned that being a team and working together was positive for their perception of their work environment. A positive work culture was characterized by solution orientation and the experiences of better opportunity to “attend to the patients in a good way”. Conclusions: It seems like healthcare workers as individuals has both a positive attitude and ways to express this in the work culture, such as humor and positive thinking. But the work culture itself seems to create some negative issues.