PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL AMONG REGISTERED NURSES WORKING IN PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN ABBOTTABAD

Abstract

Introduction: Background: Psychological capital (PsyCap) comprising hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism have emerged as a crucial positive psychological resource that enhances employees’ well-being and work performance. In the nursing profession, particularly within public sector hospitals, high job demands, workload, and emotional stress may significantly influence nurses’ psychological capital. Limited empirical evidence is available regarding the level of psychological capital among registered nurses in Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the level of psychological capital and its associated dimensions among registered nurses working in public sector hospitals of Abbottabad.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in district Abbottabad. Data were collected from 200 nurses employed in three government hospitals of Abbottabad; District Head Quarter Hospital, Women and Children Hospital and Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad. All these participants were employed based on proportionate sampling technique. The study was approved from the ethical review board of Khyber medical university Peshawar. Data collection permission was granted from the directors of concern hospitals. Data were collected using an adopted questionnaire; Psychological Capital Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Results: A total of 200 participants were included in the study. 46.5% of the participants were from the age group of 30 to 40 years old, 50.5% of the participants were having working experience more than 10 years. 65.5% of the participants were female and 86.5% of the participants were qualified to BSN/Post RN level. The majority (65%) of the participants were reported High psychological capital, followed by moderate psychological capital (22%) and low psychological capital (13%). Conclusion: The findings indicate that the majority of nurses had high psychological capital, while fewer reported moderate or low levels. Psychological capital was not significantly associated with age, gender, education, or working experience.