Organizational dimensions of hospital nursing practice: longitudinal results.

Assessment of nurses' perceptions regarding key aspects of their work environment informs nurse administrators and helps keep a finger on the organizational pulse so that they can plan effectively for staffing needs and quality care. Longitudinal assessment of nurses' perceptions of the realities of the work environment is even more critical to inform nurse administrators for decision making and planning, especially during turbulent times. The authors report on a hospital's experience in selecting, evaluating, and, at times, discarding instruments to attain the best information on their nurses' perceptions regarding their work environment. These longitudinal findings can help nurse administrators design a more positive work environment for their nurses.