The Influence of Direction of Behavior and Level of Effort on Nurses’ Work Engagement in Healthcare Services

Nurses with high levels of work motivation tend to exhibit stronger engagement in their professional responsibilities. This engagement reflects a positive psychological state characterized by enthusiasm, dedication to the profession, and deep immersion in daily tasks. This study aimed to analyze the influence of Direction of Behavior and Level of Effort on nurses’ work engagement in healthcare services. An observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 107 nurses at Hasanuddin University Hospital, selected through total sampling. The results showed that Direction of Behavior had a positive and significant effect on work engagement (p = 0.000) with a contribution of 56.1%. Similarly, Level of Effort also had a positive and significant effect on work engagement (p = 0.032) with a contribution of 12.8%. These findings indicate that Direction of Behavior has a greater influence on work engagement than Level of Effort. It is recommended that hospital management enhance nurses’ motivation by not only guiding behavioral direction but also supporting the energy and effort nurses invest in their duties. Strategies such as supervisor–staff dialogues, performance-based incentives, and continuous organizational support are essential to sustain high levels of work engagement among nursing professionals.