Exploring employee engagement in Scottish nursing at a time of multi-faceted change: developing a research agenda

Abstract

Given the unprecedented levels and pace of change being experienced in the UK's National Health Service, it is critical to maximize the engagement of key staff. This paper identifies the most important issues that need to be addressed for nurses (the largest group of NHS employees). The case study for this paper on Scottish nurses in a new hospital focused on the interaction between feeling valued, involved and having a voice; and line management support. Themes and challenges for future empirical research are identified. Lessons from the case study will find application internationally.

Keywords:

• Change management
• employee engagement
• HRM
• nursing
• Scotland

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support and help they received from the nursing managers and nurses from the Central Infirmary who participated in this research. They would also like to acknowledge the help received from Gillian Kellock Hay and Pauline Munro, both from GSBS, Glasgow Caledonian University for their help in the early stages of the data collection of this research. As with all publications, any errors remain the authors solely.