Psychological empowerment and caring behaviours among NICU nurses in the West Bank: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) face significant emotional and clinical demands affecting caring behaviours. Psychological empowerment is linked to improved nursing outcomes, yet evidence from conflict-affected settings remains limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the relationship between psychological empowerment and caring behaviours among NICU nurses in the West Bank, Palestine and identified predictors of caring behaviours.

METHODS

A multicentre descriptive correlational cross-sectional design was used. In total, 178 NICU nurses across 12 hospitals participated (response rate: 178/200, 89.0%). Psychological empowerment was measured using Spreitzer's 12-item scale (1-7); caring behaviours were assessed using the Caring Behaviours Assessment Tool Nursing Version-Short Form (27-135). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were applied.

RESULTS

Mean age was 34.4 ± 7.5 years; 65.7% were female. Psychological empowerment was moderate-to-high (mean 4.6 ± 1.3), and caring behaviours were relatively high (mean 96.7 ± 14.5). Psychological empowerment was positively correlated with caring behaviours (r = 0.696, p < 0.001) and was the only significant predictor (B = 7.352), explaining 49.4% of variance.

CONCLUSION

Psychological empowerment was strongly associated with caring behaviours, suggesting that empowerment-focused leadership and professional development strategies may support caring practice among NICU nurses.