Factors that influence job satisfaction of nurses in urban and rural community health centers in Cameroon: implications for policy.
There has been a growing recognition of work-related stress among nurses in Cameroon that has contributed to job dissatisfaction and high turnover. This study, which was conducted with 158 nurses in three major hospitals and three rural health centers in the Northwest Province of Cameroon, examined whether there were significant differences in job satisfaction between nurses in urban hospitals and rural community health settings in the six major components of the job: work, pay, promotions, supervision, co-worker relationships, and the job in general. A convenience sample of 158 staff nurses grouped into three categories (nurses' aides, registered nurses, and state registered nurses), volunteered to participate in this study. These nurses differ by level of educational preparation of 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The Job Descriptive Index questionnaires and the Job In General scales were used to measure job satisfaction. These data were analyzed with inferential statistics. Focus group interviews with 10 nurses were also done, and content analysis was used to analyze the data. The major findings indicated significant differences between job satisfaction and type of healthcare work setting, level of professional education, gender, years of service, and age group. These results are useful for nurse educators, administrators, and researchers in the formulation and implementation of effective health policies for nurses and health care organizations. This study also provided the groundwork for a future cross-cultural study of nurses in the United States and Cameroon.
Ndiwane
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College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. andiwane@lynx.neu.edu
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D002163:Cameroon; D003151:Community Health Centers; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019037:Urban Health Services