Factors associated with high job satisfaction among care workers in Swiss nursing homes - a cross sectional survey study.
BACKGROUND
While the relationship between nurses' job satisfaction and their work in hospital environments is well known, it remains unclear, which factors are most influential in the nursing home setting. The purpose of this study was to describe job satisfaction among care workers in Swiss nursing homes and to examine its associations with work environment factors, work stressors, and health issues.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study used data from a representative national sample of 162 Swiss nursing homes including 4,145 care workers from all educational levels (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants and aides). Care worker-reported job satisfaction was measured with a single item. Explanatory variables were assessed with established scales, as e.g. the Practice Environment Scale - Nursing Work Index. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were used to examine factors related to job satisfaction.


RESULTS
Overall, 36.2 % of respondents reported high satisfaction with their workplace, while another 50.4 % were rather satisfied. Factors significantly associated with high job satisfaction were supportive leadership (OR = 3.76), better teamwork and resident safety climate (OR = 2.60), a resonant nursing home administrator (OR = 2.30), adequate staffing resources (OR = 1.40), fewer workplace conflicts (OR = .61), less sense of depletion after work (OR = .88), and fewer physical health problems (OR = .91).


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of nursing home leadership-at both the unit supervisor and the executive administrator level-was strongly associated with care workers' job satisfaction. Therefore, recruitment strategies addressing specific profiles for nursing home leaders are needed, followed by ongoing leadership training. Future studies should examine the effects of interventions designed to improve nursing home leadership and work environments on outcomes both for care staff and for residents.
Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 28, Basel, 4056 Switzerland.
René
R
Schwendimann
Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 28, Basel, 4056 Switzerland.
Suzanne
S
Dhaini
Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 28, Basel, 4056 Switzerland ; College of Health-Care Professions Claudiana, Lorenz-Böhlerstr. 13, Bozen, 39100 Italy.
Dietmar
D
Ausserhofer
Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 28, Basel, 4056 Switzerland ; Pittsburgh University, School of Nursing, 350 Victoria Building, 3500 Victoria St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA.
Sandra
S
Engberg
Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 28, Basel, 4056 Switzerland.
Franziska
F
Zúñiga
Care workers; Job satisfaction; Leadership; Nursing homes; Work environment