Decision-Making Styles and Delegation Practices of Nurse Managers on the Staff Morale among Nurses in a DOH - Retained Hospital

Abstract

Nurse managers influence the nursing work environment through their decision-making approaches and delegation practices, which can affect staff morale and workplace functioning. Limited local evidence exists examining how these leadership behaviors relate to staff morale among nurses in Department of Health (DOH)-retained hospitals. This quantitative study utilized a descriptive–correlational research design to determine nurse managers’ decision-making styles and delegation practices and to examine their relationship with staff morale among nurses in a DOH-retained hospital. Data were collected from 205 staff nurses using standardized questionnaires measuring decision-making styles, delegation practices, and staff morale. Descriptive statistics were used to determine levels of the variables, while inferential statistics, including chi-square and Pearson r, were applied to test the relationships among them. Results indicated that nurse managers were predominantly perceived to demonstrate rational decision-making styles and very high delegation practices across all dimensions. Staff morale among nurses was also found to be very high, particularly in terms of job satisfaction, team climate, and organizational communication. Further analysis showed significant relationships between decision-making styles and staff morale, as well as between delegation practices and staff morale, suggesting that leadership behaviors influence nurses’ workplace experiences and perceptions. The study concludes that effective decision-making and delegation practices contribute to sustaining positive staff morale. Based on these findings, a Leadership-Based Staff Morale Enhancement Plan was proposed to strengthen managerial practices and support a healthy nursing work environment.