Organizational politics, nurses' stress, burnout levels, turnover intention and job satisfaction

AIM: This is a research report examining the influence of organizational politics perceptions on nurses' work outcomes (job satisfaction, work stress, job burnout and turnover intention). BACKGROUND: Organizational politics is a phenomenon common in almost all institutions and is linked with undesirable consequences in employees. INTRODUCTION: Despite the plethora of research around the world on this topic, studies describing organizational politics in nursing remain underexplored. METHODS: A cross-sectional research design was utilized in this study. One hundred sixty-six (166) nurses participated. Five standardized tools were used: the Job Satisfaction Index, the Job Stress Scale, the Burnout Measure Scale, the Turnover Intention Inventory Scale and the Perception of Organizational Politics Scale. RESULTS: Nurses employed both in private and government-owned hospitals perceived moderate levels of organizational politics. Positive correlations were identified between perceived organizational politics and job stress, turnover intention and job burnout. Negative correlations were found between perceived organizational politics and job satisfaction. DISCUSSION: Perceptions of workplace politics in Filipino nurses were lower when compared to findings in other international studies. A strong link was found between organizational politics perceptions and the four job outcomes (stress and burnout levels, turnover intention and job satisfaction). LIMITATIONS: Use of a self-reporting questionnaire and exclusion of nurses from other provinces. CONCLUSION: Perceived organizational politics predicted nurses' stress and burnout levels, turnover intention and job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND/OR HEALTH POLICY: The findings of this study may provide a valuable perspective of this organizational issue and could assist policymakers and nurse administrators in formulating interventions that could minimize the effect of workplace politics.