Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South Africa
Abstract Background The global shortage of nurses, intensified by nurses migrating to richer countries, creates a health crisis in developing countries. This study investigates how strategic talent management practices can improve the work engagement of professional nurses in public hospitals in Sou...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Public Health Challenges |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.87 |
| _version_ | 1797793608597766144 |
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| author | Mpho Lerotholi Adéle Bezuidenhout |
| author_facet | Mpho Lerotholi Adéle Bezuidenhout |
| author_sort | Mpho Lerotholi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The global shortage of nurses, intensified by nurses migrating to richer countries, creates a health crisis in developing countries. This study investigates how strategic talent management practices can improve the work engagement of professional nurses in public hospitals in South Africa. Methods A cross‐sectional, self‐administered survey was conducted among professional nurses employed in three large public hospitals in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. We measured: (1) management commitment, (2) talent review, (3) workforce planning, (4) staffing, (5) talent acquisition, (6) talent development, (7) talent commitment and (8) talent retention. The sub‐dimensions of work engagement that were measured included: (1) vigour, (2) absorption and (3) dedication. Descriptive and inferential (multiple regression) analyses were performed. The gap analysis calculated the difference between the current and desired status means talent management item. Results The gap analysis revealed the biggest discrepancies between the value nurses attach to and the current status of management commitment and the talent review and staffing processes. Multiple regression analyses confirmed that current status‐rating talent acquisition impacts dedication and absorption combined (r = 0.112, p‐value = 0.012 < 0.05) and management commitment impacts absorption and vigour combined (r = 0.26, p‐value = 0.026 < 0.05). The importance‐rating revealed talent development and commitment combined influences dedication and absorption combined (r = 0.092, p‐value = 0.038 < 0.05), and talent review and planning impacts absorption and vigour combined (r = 0.115, p‐value = 0.010 < 0.05). Age and job status had a significant effect on absorption–vigour. Conclusion Hospital managers can improve the engagement of nurses by demonstrating their commitment to talent development, offering a diverse variety of development opportunities and ensuring a pipeline of new nurses by improving the attractiveness of the profession. The study shows how strategic talent management practices can serve to improve work engagement in the healthcare sector. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:50:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bfd51bbcffd9480ca21994145e85472b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2769-2450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:50:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Challenges |
| spelling | doaj.art-bfd51bbcffd9480ca21994145e85472b2023-06-28T13:32:31ZengWileyPublic Health Challenges2769-24502023-06-0122n/an/a10.1002/puh2.87Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South AfricaMpho Lerotholi0Adéle Bezuidenhout1Department of Human Resource Management University of South Africa Pretoria South AfricaDepartment of Human Resource Management University of South Africa Pretoria South AfricaAbstract Background The global shortage of nurses, intensified by nurses migrating to richer countries, creates a health crisis in developing countries. This study investigates how strategic talent management practices can improve the work engagement of professional nurses in public hospitals in South Africa. Methods A cross‐sectional, self‐administered survey was conducted among professional nurses employed in three large public hospitals in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. We measured: (1) management commitment, (2) talent review, (3) workforce planning, (4) staffing, (5) talent acquisition, (6) talent development, (7) talent commitment and (8) talent retention. The sub‐dimensions of work engagement that were measured included: (1) vigour, (2) absorption and (3) dedication. Descriptive and inferential (multiple regression) analyses were performed. The gap analysis calculated the difference between the current and desired status means talent management item. Results The gap analysis revealed the biggest discrepancies between the value nurses attach to and the current status of management commitment and the talent review and staffing processes. Multiple regression analyses confirmed that current status‐rating talent acquisition impacts dedication and absorption combined (r = 0.112, p‐value = 0.012 < 0.05) and management commitment impacts absorption and vigour combined (r = 0.26, p‐value = 0.026 < 0.05). The importance‐rating revealed talent development and commitment combined influences dedication and absorption combined (r = 0.092, p‐value = 0.038 < 0.05), and talent review and planning impacts absorption and vigour combined (r = 0.115, p‐value = 0.010 < 0.05). Age and job status had a significant effect on absorption–vigour. Conclusion Hospital managers can improve the engagement of nurses by demonstrating their commitment to talent development, offering a diverse variety of development opportunities and ensuring a pipeline of new nurses by improving the attractiveness of the profession. The study shows how strategic talent management practices can serve to improve work engagement in the healthcare sector.https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.87Africahealthcarenursespositive psychologypublic hospitalssocial exchange theory |
| spellingShingle | Mpho Lerotholi Adéle Bezuidenhout Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South Africa Public Health Challenges Africa healthcare nurses positive psychology public hospitals social exchange theory |
| title | Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South Africa |
| title_full | Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South Africa |
| title_short | Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South Africa |
| title_sort | nursing profession in africa a study on work engagement and talent management practices in south africa |
| topic | Africa healthcare nurses positive psychology public hospitals social exchange theory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.87 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mpholerotholi nursingprofessioninafricaastudyonworkengagementandtalentmanagementpracticesinsouthafrica AT adelebezuidenhout nursingprofessioninafricaastudyonworkengagementandtalentmanagementpracticesinsouthafrica |