Understanding Employee Motivation in Public Healthcare: The Role of Training and Work Engagement

Motivating healthcare workers, especially nurses in the government sector, is essential for maintaining high-quality patient care. This study examines how training impacts the motivation of government nursing officers at Teaching Hospital Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. Using a structured questionnaire and responses from 300 nurses, the findings reveal a strong positive relationship between training and motivation. Nurses who received relevant and effective training reported higher levels of confidence, job satisfaction, and willingness to perform. The findings further indicate that work engagement partially mediates the relationship between training and motivation, suggesting that training enhances motivation both directly and indirectly through increased employee engagement. The results suggest that training not only improves technical skills but also boosts psychological readiness and professional morale. In the challenging environment of public hospitals, where resources are often limited, targeted training emerges as a key strategy to enhance motivation and performance. The study highlights the importance of designing practical and role-specific training programmes to support nursing staff and strengthen the public healthcare system. These insights are particularly relevant for hospital administrators and policymakers aiming to build a more committed and capable nursing workforce.