Nurses’ Perceptions of Shared Governance in a Magnet‐Aspiring Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background Shared governance is a core component of the Magnet Recognition Program, emphasizing nurse participation in decision‐making. Limited evidence exists from Saudi Arabia on nurses’ perceptions of shared governance. Aim To assess nurses’ perceptions of shared governance at King Abdulaziz Hospital (KAH) and examine differences by job title, work areas, and demographic characteristics. Methods A cross‐sectional replication/benchmarking survey was conducted in June 2025 among 265 nurses at KAH, Ministry of National Guard–Health Affairs, Al‐Ahsa. Data were collected using the Index of Professional Nursing Governance (IPNG v3.0). Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were used. Results The mean total IPNG score was 116.7 (SD = 34.0), indicating shared governance. Most subscales were within the shared governance range, except Control Over Personnel ( M = 21.6, SD = 11.2). No significant differences were found across job titles, work areas, or education levels. Weak but significant negative correlations were observed between shared governance scores and both age ( r = −0.159, p = 0.010) and years of experience ( r = −0.150, p = 0.014). Conclusion Nurses perceived a moderate level of shared governance, with strengths in professional practice and committee participation but limited influence over personnel decisions. Leadership strategies should focus on enhancing nurse participation in staffing and personnel‐related governance to strengthen empowerment and align with magnet standards.