| Lack of a healthy work environment among nurses has been shown to result in high staff turnover, medical errors, ineffective patient care, unsafe conditions, and weight gain. This correlational, survey-based study examined whether the perception of supportive leadership with respect to healthy workplace behaviors could influence registered nurses' (RN) body mass index (BMI) scores over and above their age, experience, and specialty. Social-cognitive theory and perceived organizational support theory addressed the motivational processes that must take place to engage in specific behaviors. Participants ( n = 158) were drawn from a large, Midwestern academic medical center which employed about 1200 RNs. RNs were invited to participate in an online survey via hospital newsletter, flyers, daily unit huddles, and unit nurse educators. Multiple-regression was used to explore the associations between the independent variable (perception of leadership support for healthy behaviors) and the dependent variable (BMI). While the findings indicated a significant correlation between BMI and area of specialty (outpatient and maternity) and between BMI and Asian ethnicity, the degree of significance was too small to suggest any value. Moreover, there was no correlation between scores on the Leadership Support Scale and any of the covariates. Further research should explore other potential connections between healthy workplace behaviors and the work environment in hospital settings. Implications for positive social change point to the importance of supportive leadership skills that improve employee perceptions. |
