Nurses’ and midwives’ perceptions and experiences about the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona work environment: implications for the internal marketing approach

Abstract

Each healthcare organisation should continuously monitor their nursing work environment to pursuit better outcomes and to improve the organisational attractiveness, quality of care and clinical safety. The acknowledgment of the unique dimensions of the institutional work environment enables the identification and development of strategies that may be applied to the workforce, with the ambition to fortify the organisation’s strengths and mitigate its weaknesses: but specially to meet nurses’ and midwives’ needs. Objective: The present research aims to comprehend the nurses’ and midwives’ perceptions and experiences about the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona work environment. Scope of research: The Hospital Clínic de Barcelona – a leading tertiary Spanish public healthcare institution where 30% of the workforce are nurses and midwives. Methodology: A descriptive qualitative study design with a Heideggerian phenomenological-hermeneutic approach (based on a constructivist paradigm), using a theoretical sampling and semi-structured in-depth interviews to enhance a holistic and interpretative understanding about the institutional nursing work environment. Applicability: Promote the development of an adjusted internal marketing plan according to the nurses’ and midwives’ needs, which might increase the organisational attractiveness of the institution, decrease the turnover rate and promote a higher retention of healthcare professionals.