2026-05-06
BMJ Open study: empowerment and competence reduce stress among hospital nurses
Nurse competence, thriving, and supportive, empowering work environments can significantly reduce stress symptoms among hospital nurses.
A new BMJ Open study highlights how nurse competence, thriving, supportive and empowering work environments can significantly reduce stress symptoms among hospital nurses.
The research surveyed 2,172 nurses in three Chinese hospitals and examined the relationships between structural empowerment, professional competence, thriving at work, and perceived stress. The results show that nurses with better access to information, resources, support, and opportunities—key elements of structural empowerment—report substantially lower stress levels. Empowerment also increased both professional competence and thriving, which further reduced stress. Thriving at work, defined as feeling energized and continuously learning, had the strongest impact.
According to the authors, empowering structures not only improve performance but also protect nurses' psychological wellbeing. Strengthening competence development, offering clear communication, and promoting supportive leadership are recommended strategies. With global nursing shortages and rising turnover, the study provides actionable evidence that enhancing workplace conditions can improve wellbeing and support long-term nurse retention.
Contact: Prof. Lijuan Xu – ljxu@lsu.edu.cn