Implications for practice and research

• Hospitals are responsible for providing the means necessary for nurses to act autonomously and positively influence patient outcomes.

• To prove causality, the link between nurse autonomy and patient outcomes should be endorsed by using robust research designs, examining results over time to assess differences in autonomy levels.

Context

There is a growing body of evidence linking professional work environments to improved patient, personnel and organisational outcomes. Since autonomy has been identified as an important attribute of a professional work environment for enhancing patient safety,1 a proven association between autonomy and patient-outcomes might be expected but, until now, had not been examined. This study by Rao et al is the first study that links the concept of nurse ‘autonomy’ in all contexts—clinical autonomy, job autonomy and control over nursing practice—with patient outcomes such as 30-day mortality and failure to rescue (FTR).

Findings

Reported autonomy levels varied across hospitals. For example, nurses employed in small (<100 beds) and non-teaching hospitals reported the highest levels of autonomy scores. More importantly, each additional point on nurse autonomy was associated with 19% lower odds of 30-day mortality and 17% lower odds of FTR. These findings suggest that patients receiving care within hospitals that promote nurse autonomy have lower risk for death within 30 days and complications leading to death within 30 days.

Commentary

Despite the observational nature and use of secondary analysis, the study is meticulously designed and the results are in line with earlier research linking positive work environments with higher levels of autonomy to improved patient outcomes.3 The authors address some limitations of the design. We would add that general attitudes towards work environment may influence individual item responses. Furthermore, relying on surveyed nurses to establish an overall census of bachelor nurses and nurse staffing may be imprecise.4 To draw more causal conclusions, the link between nurse autonomy and patient outcomes should be endorsed by using robust research designs—that is, time series designs—examining results over time to assess differences within hospitals based on variations in autonomy levels.

The fact that Rao et al operationalised ‘autonomy’ for the full breadth of the concept means that their results express the value of nurses' clinical knowledge in decision-making for improving patient outcomes. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of empowerment—in terms of enhancing nurse autonomy—of the largest workforce within hospitals.

This study provides evidence that when nurses do not have the ability to exercise their clinical and organisational knowledge, patient safety is put at risk. Therefore, healthcare organisations are responsible for providing necessary means for nurses to act autonomously, that is, by formulating clear roles, responsibilities and behaviours; enhancing competence in practice and decision-making; using shared governance organisational structures, and by creating strong visible leadership. However, nurses should also take responsibility for their own behaviours and actions. ‘To optimise its value, autonomy must be accompanied by proactive behaviour (ie, self-starting and forward thinking to prevent, rather than react to, workplace problems) on the part of nurses’.5