Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the relationships between
empowerment, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment among Filipino and
American registered nurses (RNs) working in the United States. A descriptive-correlational
design was used. The convenience sample of 176 participants of both
Filipino and American RNs returned either online or paper and pencil surveys.
Descriptive, correlational analyses, t-tests, and multiple regression tests were performed
to answer the research questions.
The study found correlations between structural empowerment, psychological
empowerment, job satisfaction, affective and normative commitments among Filipino
and American RNs (r ranged from .26 to .68, p<.05). No relationship was found between
structural empowerment and continuance commitment in both RN groups. The two
groups reported different scores in structural and psychological empowerment (M=3.85
(Filipino) vs. M=3.59 (American), p<.05; and M=4.37 (Filipino) vs. M=4.08 (American),
p<.05, respectively). Filipino RNs showed higher values for both variables. Significant
predictors for job satisfaction were structural empowerment among Filipino RNs, and
structural and psychological empowerment among American RNs. Regarding affective
and normative commitments, predictors for Filipino RNs were (1) structural
empowerment , and (2) whether the RN worked in a critical care unit, R^2=.34 (for
affective commitment), R^2=.24 (for normative commitment), and for American RNs only
structural empowerment, R^2=.28 (for affective commitment) and R^2=.21 (for normative
commitment).
Overall, the study confirms the relationships between empowerment, job
satisfaction, and organizational commitment among two RN groups. The study concludes
that structural and psychological empowerment in the work environments appear to be
significantly related to improved job satisfaction and commitment among RNs.
