Date of Conferral
8-18-2025
Degree
Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.)
School
Health Services
Advisor
Fawzi Awad
Abstract
Retaining perioperative nurses is vital for maintaining high-quality care, operational efficiency, and financial stability in healthcare settings. These nurses are integral to surgical care and require significant training and resources, making their retention a strategic priority. This quantitative study, grounded in Kanter’s theory of structural empowerment, used secondary data to explore two main questions: (a) Which demographic factors—such as age, experience, training, certification, and loyalty predict empowerment, burnout, and intent to leave? and (b) How do empowerment and job satisfaction influence the intent to stay? With nearly 20% of the perioperative workforce expected to retire within five years, identifying retention drivers is increasingly urgent. Prior research links turnover to low job satisfaction and poor supervisory relationships. This study found that perioperative experience (β = 0.499, p < 0.001) and certification (β = 0.438, p < 0.001) significantly predict higher empowerment levels. Additionally, work-life balance (β = 0.411, p < 0.001) and leadership style (β = 0.624, p < 0.001) strongly correlate with job satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of professional development, positive leadership, and supportive work environments in enhancing empowerment and satisfaction. Implementing targeted, evidence-based strategies can improve retention, benefiting nurses, healthcare organizations, and patient outcomes alike.
Recommended Citation
Sambrano, Kelly D., "Relationship Between Perioperative Nurses’ Perception of Empowerment Versus Burnout and Intent to Leave in a Level 1 Hospital on the East Coast" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18267.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18267
