Relationship between Nurses' Knowledge Management and their Structural Empowerment.

Background: Knowledge management (KM) is a critical issue determining the success of organizations. In the healthcare industry knowledge management is of strategic value and can assume a key role in turning learning skill and basic competencies of health organizations into sustainable competitive advantage. Furthermore, the quality of the services produced by healthcare organizations depends on properly implemented knowledge management techniques. Aim: To investigate the relationship between nurses' knowledge management and structural empowerment. Design: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: This study was conducted at all in-patient care units at Damanhour Chest Hospital. Subjects: All staff nurses who were working in the previously mentioned setting(n=252). Tools: two tools were used. Tool one: “Knowledge management tool". Tool two: “Structural empowerment tool". Results: The results of this study revealed that total levels of knowledge management were moderate (50.8%). Also, total levels of structural empowerment were moderate (42.9%). Regarding relationship between levels of knowledge management and structural empowerment there were highly statistical significant differences between all levels of knowledge management and all levels of structural empowerment (p=0.000). Conclusion: The finding of this study concluded that, there were positive, highly statistical significant correlations between total knowledge management and structural empowerment (p=0.000, r=0.669). Recommendations: Conduct frequents training programs and a series of workshops on knowledge management for staff nurses and creates a culture of knowledge sharing.