Nurses’ perceptions of the role of health organisations in building professional commitment: Insights from an israeli cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims: To reveal the factors associated with nurses’ professional commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nursing Division at the Israeli Ministry of Health and partners conducted a study to examine the nurses’ perceptions towards a set of personal and professional circumstances that may affect their performance. Method: A cross-sectional Web-based study was conducted in Israel. Study' participants included 817 community and hospital nurses. The Occupational Commitment Scale for Health Professionals during pandemic (PanHP-OCS) was used to gather data. Univariate and multivariate analyses explored associations between the PanHP-OCS score and demographic and professional variables. Results: About 40% of 817 respondents reported having managerial roles (n = 320). Those who received specific pandemic-focused training had significantly better PanHP-OCS scores (p <.001). Most respondents expected their organisation to provide them emotional support. Linear regression explored the organisational commitment factor as the greatest contributor to nurses' professional commitment (β = 0.284, p <.001). Conclusion: To enhance the nurses' professional commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic, training and emotional support must be emphasized in all types of nurses' workplaces. Implications for nursing management: In a pandemic, health organisations must provide dedicated pandemic training, including proactive emotional support for nurses. Special attention should be given to community care.