Purpose
To examine the impact of reading the text of the Nightingale Pledge aloud at the beginning of the shift on nursing workplace spirituality, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction among hospital nurses.
Methods
We used a non-randomized controlled trial design. Forty-four nurses from four wards with similar work environments at M General Hospital in B City were enrolled. The data were analyzed using a x² test, t-test, and generalized estimating equations.
Results
In both groups, we observed a significant group and time interaction effect for nursing workplace spirituality (Wald x²=4.50, p=.015) and organizational commitment (Wald x²=11.33, p=.001). Nursing workplace spirituality was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at eight weeks after the intervention (t=-3.41, p=.001). Likewise, organizational commitment was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at four and eight weeks after the intervention (Z=-1.97, p=.049; Z=-2.71, p=.007, respectively). Job satisfaction did not significantly before and after the intervention.
Conclusion
Despite the short time commitment, reading aloud the text of the Nightingale Pledge at the beginning of shift had positive effects on hospital nurses’ nursing workplace spirituality and organizational commitment.