Investigating the concept of mattering as a nurse within the context of the health care work environment

Background:
Mattering is the feeling that a person makes a difference and is significant to others. Whether one matters to a loved one, friend, organization, or society, it is an essential psychological condition for thriving and flourishing and is endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General as critical part of a healthy work environment. When employees matter at work they report increased productivity, engagement, intention to stay at their jobs, and are less likely to experience burnout and depression. Nurses need to know they matter, not only to their patients, but to their peers, physicians, administration, and the health care organization. Mattering is understudied among nurses and significant knowledge gaps prevent the integration of mattering into interventions to improve the health care work environment.
Purpose:
The purpose of this dissertation study was to explore mattering as a nurse within the health care work environment and identify aspects of the work environment such as the hospital ethical climate that play a role in how nurses perceive they matter.
Methods:
A convergent, parallel mixed-method study was conducted. Quantitative (survey questionnaire) and qualitative data (individual interviews) were collected concurrently and analyzed separately before they were converged to illustrate different ways that nurses expressed they mattered and what aspects of the work environment influenced these perceptions. Additionally, a systematic scoping review was completed to: synthesize the literature on mattering at work in general, identify key concepts and measurement methods of mattering within the context of work, and examine how mattering has been incorporated into work environments.
Mixed-method study results:
For the convergent, parallel mixed-method study, 243 registered nurses completed a Qualtrics survey and a sub-group of these nurses (n=22) participated in individual interviews. Significantly lower mattering scores were found in nurses who identified as a minority race other than Black or White (β= -3.03, p