How important are autonomy and work setting to nurse practitioners' job satisfaction?
OBJECTIVE
Nurse practitioners (NPs) have reported aspects of their jobs that they are more and less satisfied with. However, few studies have examined the factors that predict overall job satisfaction. This study uses a large national sample to examine the extent to which autonomy and work setting predict job satisfaction.


METHODS
The 2012 National Sample Survey of Nurse Practitioners (n = 8311) was used to examine bivariate and multivariate relationships between work setting and three autonomy variables (independent billing practices, having one's NP skills fully utilized, and relationship with physician), and job satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs working in primary care reported the highest levels of autonomy across all three autonomy measures, while those working in hospital surgical settings reported the lowest levels. Autonomy, specifically feeling one's NP skills were fully utilized, was the factor most predictive of satisfaction. In multivariate analyses, those who strongly agreed their skills were being fully utilized had satisfaction scores almost one point higher than those who strongly disagreed. Work setting was only marginally related to job satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to attract and retain NPs in the future, healthcare organizations should ensure that NPs' skills are being fully utilized.
School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Erin K
EK
Athey
MSN Concentration in Nurse-Midwifery, School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Mayri Sagady
MS
Leslie
School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Linda A
LA
Briggs
School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Jeongyoung
J
Park
School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.|MSN Concentration in Clinical Research Administration, School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Nancy L
NL
Falk
School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Arlene
A
Pericak
ADN to BSN/MSN Program, School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Majeda M
MM
El-Banna
School of Nursing, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.
Jessica
J
Greene
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*
Job satisfaction; autonomy; satisfaction; scope of practice; work environments