Factors that influence nurses' job satisfaction.
OBJECTIVE
To examine factors affecting the job satisfaction of registered nurses (RNs).


BACKGROUND
A growing recognition of job dissatisfaction among RNs in South Carolina hospitals has contributed to current problems with recruitment and retention. If administrators identify factors influencing RNs' job satisfaction in hospitals and implement strategies to address these factors, RN turnover rates will decrease and recruiting and retention rates will increase.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of secondary data was designed to identify the individual, work, and geographic factors that impact nursing job satisfaction at the state level. A 27-question self-administered survey was sent to 17,500 RNs in South Carolina with postage-paid envelopes for their responses. Surveys from 3472 nurses were completed anonymously. Univariate statistics were used to describe the study sample. One-way and multivariable Analysis of Variance were used to determine which variables contributed the most to job satisfaction.


RESULTS
For about two thirds of the RNs, job satisfaction remained the same or had lessened over the past 2 years. In addition, statistically significant differences were found between job satisfaction and years of service, job position, hospital retirement plan, and geographic area.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings have implications for nurse managers and hospital administrators for planning and implementing effective health policies that will meet the unique needs of their staffs and organizations. Such research is particularly relevant in this difficult time of nursing shortages throughout the healthcare industry.
Ma
Chen-Chung
CC
Division of Planning, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. up000238@yahoo.com
Samuels
Michael E
ME
Alexander
Judith W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012179:Retirement; D012307:Risk Factors; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D013022:South Carolina; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration