Decentralization as a determinant of autonomy, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment among nurse managers

The purpose of this study was to test a theoretical model of the following variables: decentralization, professional autonomy, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Data were collected through a comprehensive survey of first-line nurse managers (N = 200) in acute care hospitals with more than 100 beds in British Columbia, Canada. The final model excluded all explored personal characteristics of the nurse manager-gender, health or vitality status, marital status, age, education, and years of supervisory or management experience. Job satisfaction was found to be an important predictor of organizational commitment. However, decentralization was most important because if affected organizational commitment directly, as well as indirectly, through professional autonomy and job satisfaction.