title: Factors that affect the job satisfaction of Saudi Arabian nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine factors that influence the job satisfaction of Saudi nurses.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Saudi Arabia has a chronic shortage of Saudi national nurses. This research contributes to a greater understanding of how job satisfaction influences the recruitment and retention of Saudi nationals within the nursing profession.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative data were gathered from Saudi nurses and content analysis was used to identify themes in the written responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four main themes emerged from the data: lack of educational opportunities and support and the poor image of the nursing profession, perceptions of favouritism, high workloads and stressful work environment and the effect of religion on job satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saudi nurses would be more satisfied with their jobs if they had greater access to educational opportunities and if there was a reduction in workload and the perceived favouritism in the workplace was addressed. Religion was also found to play a significant role in supporting job satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest the development of educational scholarships, as well as policies that better support equity in the workplace, to address Saudi nurses' level of job satisfaction. The generally positive impact of cultural and religious beliefs is also highlighted in this study.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jazi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alotaibi
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.|Faculty of Health, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Penny Susan
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Paliadelis
authors.affiliation: UNE Business School, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Fredy-Roberto
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004506:Education, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012067:Religion; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012945:Social Values; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload
keywords: Saudi Arabia; Saudi national nurses; job satisfaction