Worker morale in Russia: an exploratory study

Relationship between nurses' mood at work and work engagement: Work morale as a mediator

AIM

To determine the effect of nurses' mood at work (positive and negative) on work engagement and whether work morale mediates this relationship.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' work engagement is a key research area, yet limited data regarding the relationship between nurses' mood at work and work engagement are available. Therefore, how nurses' positive or negative mood at work affects their work engagement remains unclear.

METHODS

This study analyzed nurses from a medical center in Taipei City. A total of 279 completed questionnaires were returned. The data were analyzed using two-stage structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships.

FINDINGS

Nurses' positive mood had a significantly positive effect on work morale, whereas their negative mood had a significantly negative effect on work morale. Additionally, work morale played a mediating role in the relationship between mood at work and work engagement.

CONCLUSION

The results revealed that nurses' moods affected their work engagement and that this relationship was affected by work morale.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Healthcare institutions and hospitals could develop a positive work environment to help nurses maintain their good mood and reduce negative affectivity. They should also provide nurses with counseling services, offer morale-boosting activities, and adopt an inspirational leadership style to maintain their work morale.

Exploration of people centric organizational health dimensions: a study of Indian R&D organization

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the dimensions of organizational health with the help of existing literature and focus group discussion on organizational health. The study also tries to categorize various antecedents and consequences of organizational health.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review was conducted with limited search word on organizational health using databases like Emerald, Ebsco and Science direct. Focus group discussions were performed at Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute and National Metallurgical Laboratory – laboratories of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, an Indian R&D organization. A total of 29 male and 6 female respondents participated in the focus group discussion.

Findings

The results showed that various dimensions of organizational health which were found using focus group discussions were in congruence with the literature reviewed on organizational health. The findings of focus group discussion also listed the antecedents and consequences of organizational health in an R&D organization.

Research limitations/implications

The literature presented conflicting views on organizational health construct. The focus group discussion provided clarity on the dimensions of organizational health. An empirical research can be done on organizational health considering dimensions identified during the focus group discussion.

Originality/value

It is an attempt to conceptualize the construct of organizational health in a research and development organization with the help of focus group discussion.

Morale of vocational dental practitioners in the United Kingdom

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to devise a suitable survey instrument to measure morale, and to undertake an assessment of morale amongst vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) in the UK.

DESIGN

Postal questionnaire survey.

SETTING

Dental vocational training schemes in the UK.

SUBJECTS

Vocational dental practitioners.

METHOD

A confidential postal questionnaire was used to measure levels of morale among all VDPs in the UK in 2007.

RESULTS

A response rate of 76.7% was achieved. The mean morale score for Scottish VDPs was significantly higher than that of the Northern Irish VDPs, which in turn was significantly higher than those of the VDPs in England or Wales. In England and Wales females recorded higher morale scores than males. Lowest morale scores were associated with statements referring to concerns about future changes to NHS dentistry, and the limits on treatment within the NHS system. The highest scores were associated with good working relationships.

CONCLUSION

The use of an appropriately tested questionnaire has provided a convenient objective measure of morale. The morale of VDPs in the United Kingdom was lower than expected. Scottish VDPs recorded higher morale scores than other VDPs and responded more positively in the survey instrument. The most negative responses from all VDPs were regarding the effect of the NHS system on treatment and concerns about future changes to the NHS.