Generational Cohort Differences in Types of Organizational Commitment Among Nurses in Alabama

147 Pages·2015·1.4 MB·English

Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection
1-1-2011
Generational Cohort Differences in Types of
Organizational Commitment Among Nurses in
Alabama
April Lavette Jones
Walden University
Follow this and additional works at:https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations
Part of theBusiness Administration, Management, and Operations Commons,Management
Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons,Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons, and
theVocational Rehabilitation Counseling Commons
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been
accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please
[email protected].
Walden University

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

April Jones

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.

Review Committee
Dr. Richard Thompson, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Bernadette Dorr, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty
Dr. Elisha Galaif, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty

Chief Academic Officer
Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University
2014
Abstract

Generational Cohort Differences in Types of Organizational Commitment
Among Nurses in Alabama
by
April Lavette Jones

MSM, Faulkner University, 2006
MSW, University of Alabama, 2003
BS, Stillman College, 2000

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Organizational Psychology

Walden University
December 2014
Abstract
In hospitals in the United States, the ratio of nurses to patients is declining, resulting in an
increase in work demands for nurses. Consequently, organizations face challenges with
nurses’ organizational commitment. Studies have revealed generational differences, as
determined by birth year, in employee levels of organizational commitment in a number
of organizational settings. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the impact
of generational cohorts on the organizational commitment of nurses. The purpose of this
quantitative, nonexperimental, cross-sectional design was to address whether generational
cohorts of nurses differed in their levels of organizational commitment, and to investigate
whether licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) differed in their
levels of organizational commitment. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit
132 nurses in Alabama for this study. A MANOVA was employed to test the mean
differences in organizational commitment by generational cohort status and nursing
degree. Results revealed that generational cohort status did not have a significant impact
on nurses’ levels of organizational commitment. However, the findings showed that
LPNs had significantly lower levels of affective commitment than RNs. This study
provided information that may be of use to hospital administrators and human resource
managers in communicating the need for flexible incentive packages to address the needs
of a diverse workforce. Results from the study may promote social change by providing
information about how nurse credentials are associated with their organization
commitment. This association is critical for building organizational stability,
organizational effectiveness, and nurse recruitment and retention.

Generational Cohort Differences in Types of Organizational Commitment
Among Nurses in Alabama
by
April Lavette Jones

MSM, Faulkner University, 2006
MSW, University of Alabama, 2003
BS, Stillman College, 2001

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Organizational Psychology

Walden University
December 2014
UMI Number: 3645920
All rights reserved
INFORMATION TO ALL USERS
The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted.
In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript
and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed,
a note will indicate the deletion.
UMI 3645920
Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author.
Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC.
All rights reserved. This work is protected against
unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code
ProQuest LLC.
789 East Eisenhower Parkway
P.O. Box 1346
Ann Arbor, MI 48106 - 1346
Dedication
This dissertation is dedicated to my father, the honorable Lawrence County
Commissioner Mose Jones, Jr.; my mother, Ella Mae Jones; my sisters, Sharon and Jalisa
Jones; my brothers, Shaffer and Christopher Jones; and our Heavenly Father, Jesus
Christ.
Acknowledgments
The completion of this dissertation would not have been possible without the
support and guidance of my exceptional dissertation committee chair and member.
Thank you to Dr. Richard Thompson, dissertation chair, and Dr. Bernadette Dorr,
dissertation committee member, for your dedication and support of my dissertation.
In loving memory of my dear grandmother, Ms. Annie L. Jones; my coworker,
Mrs. Melodye Giovanni; Ms. Gene Garth; and Nurse Naydean Coffee, RN, for their
support and words of encouragement that will live forever in my heart. Thanks to my
colleagues, Nurse Col Gwendolyn Hill, RN; Nurse Shateria Scott-Brown, RN; Colonel
Marina Ray, RN; Dr. Captain Tenyai Chambers; TSgt Martrice Ways; Dr. Captain
Neyesa Etienne; Dr. Vonceil Smith; Mrs. Lela Brown; Mrs. Aloys Ingram; Ms. Marsha
Taylor; Federal Employee/Womens members; Maxwell Air Force Base Toastmasters
#1153; and Maxwell Air Force Base Protestant Women of the Chapel members for your
support and motivation to complete my dissertation. Thank you to my friends, Nurse
Mary Gilmore-Taite, LPN; Ms. Tekeisha Whitt; Miss Jaylynn Harris; Evangelist Debra
Ward; First Lady Melinda Williams; Mrs. Evelyn Madigan; Nurse Genie Cooper, RN;
Nurse Colerissa Williams, RN; Mr. Larry Lee; Dr. Prospere Charles; and Vaughn Forest
Baptist Church Sunday School members for your support and prayers. Finally, thanks to
my sisters-in-law, Mrs. Veronica Jones, LPN and Mrs. Tamela Jones; my nieces, Aaliyah
Jones and Tyra Jones; my nephews, Jaylan Jones and Tori Jones; and my cousin, Mr.
Corey D. Lee, for your support as well.
Table of Contents
List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v(cid:3)
List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi(cid:3)
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1(cid:3)
Statement of Problem .....................................................................................................3(cid:3)
Purpose of Study ............................................................................................................4(cid:3)
Nature of Study ..............................................................................................................5(cid:3)
Research Question and Hypotheses ...............................................................................8(cid:3)
Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................9(cid:3)
Generational Theory ............................................................................................. 10(cid:3)
Operational Definitions ................................................................................................12(cid:3)
Assumptions .................................................................................................................13(cid:3)
Limitations ...................................................................................................................13(cid:3)
Significance of Research..............................................................................................14(cid:3)
Summary ......................................................................................................................16(cid:3)
Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................18(cid:3)
Introduction ..................................................................................................................18(cid:3)
Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................18(cid:3)
Theoretical Orientation ................................................................................................19(cid:3)
Organizational Commitment Theory .................................................................... 19(cid:3)
Research on Organizational Commitment ............................................................ 20(cid:3)
Generational Theory ....................................................................................................25(cid:3)
i