title: Do new roles contribute to job satisfaction and retention of staff in nursing and professions allied to medicine?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have suggested that job dissatisfaction is a major factor influencing nurses' and occupational therapists' intention to leave their profession. It has also been related to turnover of qualified nurses. However, literature relating to these factors among nurses and professions allied to medicine in innovative roles is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper considers the views of 452 nurses and 162 professionals allied to medicine (PAMs) in innovative roles, on job satisfaction, career development, intention to leave the profession and factors seen as hindering and enhancing effective working.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-completion questionnaire was developed as part of a larger study exploring new roles in practice (The ENRiP Study).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall there was a high level of job satisfaction in both groups (nurses and PAMs). Job satisfaction was significantly related to feeling integrated within the post-holder's own professional group and with immediate colleagues, feeling that the role had improved their career prospects, feeling adequately prepared and trained for the role, and working to protocol. Sixty-eight percent (n = 415) of respondents felt the role had enhanced their career prospects but over a quarter of respondents (n = 163; 27%) said they would leave their profession if they could. Low job satisfaction was significantly related to intention to leave the profession.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vast majority of post-holders in innovative roles felt that the role provided them with a sense of job satisfaction. However, it is essential that the post-holders feel adequately prepared to carry out the role and that the boundaries of their practice are well defined. Career progression and professional integration both being associated with job satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom