Summary

Nurses who engage with their work are more productive, provide safer care, and are more likely to provide an outstanding patient experience. However, the concept of nurse engagement has been used in different contexts and with different meanings, transforming into an ambiguous concept. The aim of this article is to analyze the concept of nurse engagement, as it relates to the patient experience, using the Walker and Avant method. The concept analysis revealed: a) various meanings and uses of the concept; b) attributes (self-efficacy; autonomy and control over nursing practice; and optimizing nurse communication); c) antecedents (empowerment and job resources); d) consequences (greater satisfaction with their working environment; more autonomy within their practice; better commitment to their job and their patients; and a stronger patient safety culture); and e) empirical referents. The Institute of Medicine recognized nurse engagement as a significant factor having a direct effect on the patients experience. Consequently, having a clear concept of nurse engagement can generate further research and lead to developing interventions and education that will encourage and enhance nurse engagement, and the patients experience.