Predictors and outcomes of nurse professional autonomy: A cross-sectional study

Aims: This paper is a report examining the level of professional autonomy as well as its predictors and outcomes among practicing nurses in the Philippines. Methods: This study adopted a descriptive, cross-sectional research design. One hundred sixty-six (n = 166) nurses participated in the study or a response rate of 83% during the months of January 2017 to May 2017. Seven self-reported scales were used for this study: the Nurse Autonomy Scale, Job Stress Scale, Burnout Measure Scale, Job Satisfaction Index, Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, Turnover Intention Inventory Scale, and the Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the collected data. Results: Nurses demonstrated moderate levels of professional autonomy with education and hospital bed capacity as strong predictors. Regression analysis showed positive effects of professional autonomy on nurses' job outcomes such as organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and work performance. Conclusion: Consistent to international studies, nurses in the Philippines demonstrated moderate levels of professional autonomy. Nurses who had higher levels of autonomy tended to be high performing, satisfied, and committed in their jobs. Organizational efforts are critically important to foster autonomy in practicing nurses through adequate support, education, training, and developed policies.