Factors of importance for work satisfaction among nurses in a university hospital in Sweden

Abstract

The shortage of registered nurses in the healthcare sector is a problem in most countries. Swedish nurses tend to leave or seek new positions. However, few Swedish studies have addressed questions regarding what factors are of importance for nurses to perceive work satisfaction although satisfied nurses are linked to many positive organizational outcomes, e.g. improved quality of patient care. The aim of this study was to investigate what factors are of importance for nurses at a university hospital to perceive work satisfaction. Eight hundred and thirty-three nurses responded to the mailed Quality Work Competence questionnaire and the Huddinge University Hospital Model Questionnaire. Regression analyses identifies five factors linked to the head nurses leadership contributing to the nurses' feelings of work satisfaction: 'professional competence is made good use of', 'feeling of satisfaction with immediate superior regarding support for nursing research and development', 'opportunities for developing one's own competence for the current job', 'career opportunities in one's own profession' and 'yearly dialogue for performance appraisal with immediate superior'. The nurses also reported work-related exhaustion. Few saw opportunities for making a career as a nurse. In conclusion, the study identified specific amenable factors linked to the head nurses leadership that are of importance in creating attractive workplaces for nurses.

Band 5 nurses’ perceptions and experiences of professional development

“…Views expressed by participants support those reported by Gardulf et al (2008), for example many believed it was not possible to engage in professional development during working hours. Similarly, Govranos and Newton (2014) reported a perception among nurses that education interrupts work, and is therefore pushed aside, even when it supports people to do their job.…”

The Nurse Professional Competence (NPC) Scale: Self-reported competence among nursing students on the point of graduation

“…A lack of opportunities for professional competence development has been identified as a factor that negatively influences the turnover rate of RNs. 14 This high turnover rate has in turn has been identified as a major challenge for future healthcare systems. [14][15][16][17] In addition, the concept of "nurses' professional competence" is imprecise, as no common, international definition exists.…”

Satisfaction with the work of nurses

“…Kao razlozi sve većeg broja studija iz ove oblasti navode se: loš materijalni status, nedovoljna fizička bezbjednost, rad u noćnim smjenama, kao i loši uslovi rada sa velikim fizičkim i mentalnim opterećenjem. Komponente pozitivne i negative emocije uz zadovoljstvo životom sastavni su delovi složenog konstrukta emocionalnog dobrostanja, koji predstavlja relativno novo područje razumevanja ljudske prirode, a time i novije područje istraživanja, pri čemu se daje prioritet i uvažava iskustvo pojedinca odnosno njegov pogled na vlastiti život i pojedine aspekte posla (8,9).…”

“…I rezultati većeg broja studija su u skladu sa našim istraživanjem (8,9,10,11,12). Uticaj plate na zadovoljstvo poslom medicinskih sestara teško je odrediti bez detaljnih znanja o društvenoj i ekonomskoj klimi u kojoj se živi i radi.…”

“…Kao i ostali profesionalci, medicinske sestre imaju očekivanja kako bi trebale da bude tretirane i nagrađivanje u svojoj radnoj sredini.Veliki emocionalni i fizički napori i nedovoljne nagrade su teme koje se nalaze visoko na listi prioriteta sestrinske profesije (21,22,23). Slični rezultati nađeni su i u studiji koju su sproveli Gardif i saradnici u Švedskoj, gdje je većina medicinskih sestara nezadovoljna mogućnostima za profesionalni razvoj (24). Suprotno ovim studijama, Bjork i saradnici u studiji sprovedenoj u Norveškoj nalaze da su medicinske sestre najzadovoljnije profesionalnim statusom, saradnicima i autonomijom, dok su izrazile najveće nezadovoljstvo platom (25).…”