Creating a Culture of Belongingness: A Script for Nurse Satisfaction and Nurse Leader Development

Abstract

(41st Biennial Convention) The purpose of this qualitative study, from a phenomenological approach, was to explore nurses' understanding of belongingness and the influence this knowledge could have for nurse leaders on job satisfaction and retention of nurses. Fifteen Registered Nurses (RNs) from a health care organization in Toronto, Canada, took part in the study. From the interviews conducted holistic, selective, and line-by-line analysis of transcripts occurred. The use of NVivo 8 software during data analysis assisted in identifying themes. Four core themes emerged: Belongingness relates to possessing a feeling of happiness and a sense of family; creating belongingness is primarily the responsibility of nurse leaders; organizations have a responsibility for ensuring a culture of belongingness exists; for novice nurses to remain in practice acquiring a sense of belongingness is essential. Implications are nurse leaders and organizations must commit to creating environments where nurses hold a sense of belongingness. Recommendations include organizational reviews of current barriers to creating caring and supportive practice settings and for nurse leaders at all levels of an organization to focus on the concept of belongingness in creating nursing practice environments conducive to retaining nurses. Strategies for health care administrators include development of leadership training for nurses based on a theoretical model of belongingness.