Job satisfaction of advanced practice nurses in the Veterans Health Administration.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the level of job satisfaction and barriers to practice for advanced practice nurses (APNs) employed by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).


METHODS
The Misener Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction Survey (MNPJSS) and an investigator-developed questionnaire were completed by a self-selected, convenience sample of 1,983 APNs who responded to an internal VHA email invitation (61% response rate) to participate in an anonymous on-line survey.


CONCLUSIONS
Respondents reported being minimally satisfied with their job overall, most satisfied with their benefits and least satisfied with professional growth and intrapractice collegiality. They scored lower than their private sector peers for total job satisfaction and all subscales except benefits, as compared to samples of three smaller studies. Clinical nurse specialists reported greater job satisfaction then NPs. The most frequently cited barriers to practice were: too many non-APN tasks, lack of administrative support, and inadequate time to do research.


CONCLUSIONS
Strategies for improving professional growth and intra-practice collegiality are needed. APNs' job satisfaction may be improved in these areas by mentoring of new APN graduates and administrative approval for participating in research. Additional administrative support is needed to decrease the amount of non-APN tasks and clerical duties.
Faris
Judith A
JA
VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA. judi.faris@sbcglobal.net
Douglas
Marilyn K
MK
Maples
Deanna C
DC
Berg
Laurie R
LR
Thrailkill
Ann
A
D000328:Adult; D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology