Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Business Administration

Advisor

Michael Lavelle

Abstract

Healthcare managers are failing to meet the increasing demand for services while experiencing a growing shortage of healthcare workers. The restrictive scope of practice regulations and organizational barriers have a negative effect on the number and growth of nurse practitioners available to meet the required demand. Researchers have focused on the organizational climate of the nursing profession in general, yet there is an absence of research regarding the perceptions of the advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) in their local practice environment. The purpose of this study was to examine if ARNP role identification, autonomy, and collaboration were predictive of perceived organizational climate. Lewin’s field theory formed the theoretical framework for the study. A sample of 187 ARNPs practicing in the state of Florida specializing in primary care completed the nurse practitioner–primary care organizational climate questionnaire administered via an online third party survey administration service. The results of the multiple linear regression analyses indicated the model as a whole was able to significantly predict organizational climate F(3, 183) = 12.498, p = .001, R2 = .681. Role identification (β = .346) provided the most contribution to the model, followed by collaboration (β = .296) and autonomy (β = .275). The implications for social change could include providing Florida state policymakers and healthcare managers with the meaningful information needed to develop concrete strategies for optimizing and retaining the ARNP workforce. Improving nurse practitioner engagement could lead to improved patient results and safety.

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