Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’

Katja Raitio; Lauri Kokkinen

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13

| Peer-Reviewed

Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’

Katja Raitio, Lauri Kokkinen

Published in American Journal of Nursing Science (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 6 October 2014 Accepted: 21 October 2014 Published: 10 November 2014

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Nurses are the largest employee group in health care but continue to lack presence in organizational restructuring processes. This study examines whether nurses’ opportunities to be involved in organizational restructuring are associated with their work ability. Respondents of a survey were asked to identify the organizational changes that had transpired at their workplaces in the previous two years, and to evaluate their opportunities to be involved in these changes. They were also asked to evaluate their work ability and to assess certain statements related to their individual resources and the characteristics of their work at the time of the survey. The study shows that exclusion of nurses from health care restructuring processes may cause feelings of injustice and lower commitment to work and thus decrease work ability. Nurses who evaluated their opportunities to be involved in the restructuring as poor were at a two-fold risk of decreased work ability in comparison to nurses who stated that their opportunities to be involved were good. We conclude that the nursing profession should collectively aim to enhance individual nurse's opportunities to take part in the planning and implementation of organizational restructuring in health care. Poor opportunities to be involved in restructuring processes may result in costs not only to individual nurses but also to society at large as successful public health outcomes of health care restructuring are dependent on nurses’ work ability and performance.

Published in	American Journal of Nursing Science (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13
Page(s)	73-77
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Health Care, Organizational Restructuring, Work Ability, Nurse

References

[1]	Lange, A. & Cheek, J. (1997). Health policy and the nursing profession: a deafening silence. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 3(1), 2-9.
[2]	Gibb, H. (1998). Reform in Public Health: where does it take nursing? Nursing Inquiry, 5(4), 258-267.
[3]	Barry-Walker, J. (2000). The impact of systems redesign on staff, patient, and financial outcomes. Journal of Nursing Administration, 30(2), 77-89.
[4]	Spitzer, A., Peerenoud, B., Desaulles, C., Camus, D., Van Gele, P. & Périer, J. (2002). Swiss nurses’ knowledge related to health care reforms: an explonatory study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38(4), 329-340.
[5]	Wynne, R. (2003). Clinical nurses’ response to an environment of health care reform and organizational restructuring. Journal of Nursing Management,11(2), 98-106.
[6]	Boswell, C., Cannon, S. & Miller, J. (2005). Nurses' political involvement: responsibility versus privilege. Journal of Professional Nursing, 21(1), 5-8.
[7]	Laschinger, H. & Sabiston, J.A. Empowerment and staff nurse decision involvement in nursing work environments: Testing Kanter’s theory of structural power in organizations. (1997). Research in Nursing and Health, 20(4), 341-352.
[8]	Isosaari, U. (2011). Power in health care organizations: contemplations from the first-line management perspective. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 25(4), 385-399.
[9]	Rosengren, K., Kullen Engström, A. & Axelsson, L. (1999). The staff’s experience of structural changes in the health and medical service in western Sweden. Journal of Nursing Management, 7, 289-298.
[10]	Eskelinen, L., Kohvakka, A., Merisalo, T., Hurri, H. & Wägar, G. (1991). Relationship between the self-assessment and clinical assessment of health status and work ability. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 17(Supplement 1), 40-47.
[11]	Reiso, H., Nygård, J.F., Brage, S., Gulbrandsen, P. & Tellnes, G. (2000). Work ability assessed by patients and their GPs in new episodes of sickness certification. Family Practice, 17(2), 139-144.
[12]	Zwart, B.C., Frings-Dresen, M.H. & van Duivenbooden J.C. (2002). Test–retest reliability of the Work Ability Index questionnaire. Occupational Medicine, 52(4), 177-181.
[13]	Kujala, V., Tammelin, T., Remes, J., Vammavaara, E., Ek, E. & Laitinen, J. (2006). Work ability index of young employees and their sickness absence during the following year. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 32(1), 75-84.
[14]	Ahlström, L., Grimpy-Ekman, A., Hagberg, M. & Dellve, L. (2010). The work ability index and single-item question: associations with sick leave, symptoms, and health – a prospective study of women on long-term sick leave. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 36(5), 404-412.
[15]	Ilmarinen, J., Tuomi, K. & Klockars, M. (1997). Changes in the work ability of active employees over an 11-year period. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 23(Supplement 1), 49–57.
[16]	Tuomi, K., Ilmarinen, J., Klockars, M., Nygård, C.H., Seitsamo, J., Huuhtanen, P., Martikainen, R. & Aalto, L. (1997). Finnish research project on aging workers in 1981–1992. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 23(Supplement 1), 7–11.
[17]	Alavinia, S.M., de Boer, A.G., van Duivenbooden, J.C., Frings-Dresen, M.H. & Burdorf A. (2009). Determinants of work ability and its predictive value for disability. Occupational Medicine 59(1), 32-37.
[18]	Ilmarinen J. (2009). Work ability – a comprehensive concept for occupational health research and prevention. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 35(1), 1–5.
[19]	Kinnunen, J. & Lindström, K.(Eds.). (2005). Effects of organizational changes in health care. Analysing management and well-being of personnel in Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa. Kuopio, Finland: Kopiojyvä.
[20]	Tuomi, K., Ilmarinen, J., Jahkola, A., Katajarinne, L. & Tulkki, A. (1994). Work Ability Index. Helsinki, Finland: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
[21]	Ilmarinen, J. & Tuomi, K. (2004). Past, present and future of work ability. In J. Ilmarinen & S. Lehtinen (Eds.), Past, Present and Future of Work Ability. (pp. 1-25). Helsinki, Finland: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
[22]	Pensola, T., Järvikoski, A. & Järvisalo, J. (2008). Unemployment and work ability. In R. Gould, J. Järvisalo & S. Koskinen (Eds.), Dimensions of Work Ability. (pp. 123-130). Helsinki, Finland: Finnish Centre for Pensions.
[23]	Idler, E.L., Russell, L.B. & Davis, D. (2000). Survival, functional limitations, and self-rated health in the NHASES 1 epidemiologic follow-up study, 1992. First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. American Journal of Epidemiology, 152(9), 874-883.
[24]	Tuomi, K., Vanhala, S., Nykyri, E. & Janhonen, M. (2004). Organizational practices, work demands and the well-being of employees: a follow-up study in the metal industry and retail trade. Occupational Medicine, 54(2), 115-121.
[25]	Moorman, R.H. (1991). The relationship between organizational justice and organizational citizenship behavior: Do fairness perceptions influence employee citizenship? Journal of Applied Psychology, 76, 845-855.
[26]	Eller, N.H., Netterstrom, B., Gyntelberg, F., Kristensen, T.S., Nielsen, F., Steptoe, A. & Theorell, T. (2009). Work-related psychosocial factors and the development of ischemic heart disease: a systematic review. Cardiology in Review, 17(2), 83–97.
[27]	Steptoe, A. & Kivimäki, M. (2013). Stress and cardiovascular disease: an update on current knowledge. Annual Review of Public Health, 34, 337–354.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Katja Raitio, Lauri Kokkinen. (2014). Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’. American Journal of Nursing Science, 3(5), 73-77. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Katja Raitio; Lauri Kokkinen. Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’. Am. J. Nurs. Sci. 2014, 3(5), 73-77. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Katja Raitio, Lauri Kokkinen. Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’. Am J Nurs Sci. 2014;3(5):73-77. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13,
  author = {Katja Raitio and Lauri Kokkinen},
  title = {Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’},
  journal = {American Journal of Nursing Science},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {73-77},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajns.20140305.13},
  abstract = {Nurses are the largest employee group in health care but continue to lack presence in organizational restructuring processes. This study examines whether nurses’ opportunities to be involved in organizational restructuring are associated with their work ability. Respondents of a survey were asked to identify the organizational changes that had transpired at their workplaces in the previous two years, and to evaluate their opportunities to be involved in these changes. They were also asked to evaluate their work ability and to assess certain statements related to their individual resources and the characteristics of their work at the time of the survey. The study shows that exclusion of nurses from health care restructuring processes may cause feelings of injustice and lower commitment to work and thus decrease work ability. Nurses who evaluated their opportunities to be involved in the restructuring as poor were at a two-fold risk of decreased work ability in comparison to nurses who stated that their opportunities to be involved were good. We conclude that the nursing profession should collectively aim to enhance individual nurse's opportunities to take part in the planning and implementation of organizational restructuring in health care. Poor opportunities to be involved in restructuring processes may result in costs not only to individual nurses but also to society at large as successful public health outcomes of health care restructuring are dependent on nurses’ work ability and performance.},
 year = {2014}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’
AU  - Katja Raitio
AU  - Lauri Kokkinen
Y1  - 2014/11/10
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13
T2  - American Journal of Nursing Science
JF  - American Journal of Nursing Science
JO  - American Journal of Nursing Science
SP  - 73
EP  - 77
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5753
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13
AB  - Nurses are the largest employee group in health care but continue to lack presence in organizational restructuring processes. This study examines whether nurses’ opportunities to be involved in organizational restructuring are associated with their work ability. Respondents of a survey were asked to identify the organizational changes that had transpired at their workplaces in the previous two years, and to evaluate their opportunities to be involved in these changes. They were also asked to evaluate their work ability and to assess certain statements related to their individual resources and the characteristics of their work at the time of the survey. The study shows that exclusion of nurses from health care restructuring processes may cause feelings of injustice and lower commitment to work and thus decrease work ability. Nurses who evaluated their opportunities to be involved in the restructuring as poor were at a two-fold risk of decreased work ability in comparison to nurses who stated that their opportunities to be involved were good. We conclude that the nursing profession should collectively aim to enhance individual nurse's opportunities to take part in the planning and implementation of organizational restructuring in health care. Poor opportunities to be involved in restructuring processes may result in costs not only to individual nurses but also to society at large as successful public health outcomes of health care restructuring are dependent on nurses’ work ability and performance.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Katja Raitio

The School of Health and Social Studies, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Jyv?skyl?, Finland
Lauri Kokkinen

The Centre of Expertise for the Development of Work and Organizations, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Tampere, Finland

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Katja Raitio, Lauri Kokkinen. (2014). Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’. American Journal of Nursing Science, 3(5), 73-77. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Katja Raitio; Lauri Kokkinen. Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’. Am. J. Nurs. Sci. 2014, 3(5), 73-77. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Katja Raitio, Lauri Kokkinen. Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’. Am J Nurs Sci. 2014;3(5):73-77. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13,
  author = {Katja Raitio and Lauri Kokkinen},
  title = {Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’},
  journal = {American Journal of Nursing Science},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {73-77},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajns.20140305.13},
  abstract = {Nurses are the largest employee group in health care but continue to lack presence in organizational restructuring processes. This study examines whether nurses’ opportunities to be involved in organizational restructuring are associated with their work ability. Respondents of a survey were asked to identify the organizational changes that had transpired at their workplaces in the previous two years, and to evaluate their opportunities to be involved in these changes. They were also asked to evaluate their work ability and to assess certain statements related to their individual resources and the characteristics of their work at the time of the survey. The study shows that exclusion of nurses from health care restructuring processes may cause feelings of injustice and lower commitment to work and thus decrease work ability. Nurses who evaluated their opportunities to be involved in the restructuring as poor were at a two-fold risk of decreased work ability in comparison to nurses who stated that their opportunities to be involved were good. We conclude that the nursing profession should collectively aim to enhance individual nurse's opportunities to take part in the planning and implementation of organizational restructuring in health care. Poor opportunities to be involved in restructuring processes may result in costs not only to individual nurses but also to society at large as successful public health outcomes of health care restructuring are dependent on nurses’ work ability and performance.},
 year = {2014}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Politics of Organizational Restructuring in Health Care and Work Ability of Nurses’
AU  - Katja Raitio
AU  - Lauri Kokkinen
Y1  - 2014/11/10
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13
T2  - American Journal of Nursing Science
JF  - American Journal of Nursing Science
JO  - American Journal of Nursing Science
SP  - 73
EP  - 77
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5753
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140305.13
AB  - Nurses are the largest employee group in health care but continue to lack presence in organizational restructuring processes. This study examines whether nurses’ opportunities to be involved in organizational restructuring are associated with their work ability. Respondents of a survey were asked to identify the organizational changes that had transpired at their workplaces in the previous two years, and to evaluate their opportunities to be involved in these changes. They were also asked to evaluate their work ability and to assess certain statements related to their individual resources and the characteristics of their work at the time of the survey. The study shows that exclusion of nurses from health care restructuring processes may cause feelings of injustice and lower commitment to work and thus decrease work ability. Nurses who evaluated their opportunities to be involved in the restructuring as poor were at a two-fold risk of decreased work ability in comparison to nurses who stated that their opportunities to be involved were good. We conclude that the nursing profession should collectively aim to enhance individual nurse's opportunities to take part in the planning and implementation of organizational restructuring in health care. Poor opportunities to be involved in restructuring processes may result in costs not only to individual nurses but also to society at large as successful public health outcomes of health care restructuring are dependent on nurses’ work ability and performance.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download