Factors Influencing Hospital Nurses Performance In Accordance With Clinical Authority: A Literature Review
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Background
Hospital nurses performance within their clinical authority is pivotal to patient safety and care quality. Recent scholarship (2021-2025) indicates that performance is not solely a function of individual competence but is shaped by a dynamic interplay of organizational, individual, and environmental factors.
Purpose
This literature review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the determinants that facilitate or impede hospital nurses performance in accordance with their clinical authority, and to highlight gaps for future research.
Methods
A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2025 was conducted across major nursing and health services databases. Inclusion criteria comprised empirical studies (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) that examined factors influencing nurses performance, leadership, empowerment, workload, or environmental considerations. Selected articles were screened, coded, and thematically analyzed to identify recurring determinants, barriers, and facilitators.
Results
The synthesis revealed four core determinants: (1) supportive clinical leadership, which exerts the strongest direct and indirect influence on performance (0.35); (2) manageable workloads, mitigating role conflict between patient care priority and environmental stewardship; (3) structural empowerment and professional autonomy, linked to innovative behaviours (0.63) mediated by organizational climate; and (4) positive organizational climate/team climate, fostering collaboration. Prominent barriers included hierarchical cultures, resource shortages, and insufficient mentorship. Environmental awareness, while present, was often subordinated to immediate clinical duties due to time constraints and lack of institutional support.
Conclusion
Hospital nurses performance under clinical authority is governed by a complex nexus of leadership, workload, empowerment, and climate factors. Targeted organizational interventions, coupled with rigorous research in diverse contexts, are essential to optimize nursing performance and sustain high-quality patient care.
