Predictors of flight nurse job satisfaction.

A mail survey was conducted to investigate occupational stress, depression, and job satisfaction among flight nurses. Multivariate multiple regression was used to predict job satisfaction and depression simultaneously. Age, gender, marital status, years employed in air medical transport, employment in a hospital-based program, employment in a program which made scene responses, and stress were the independent variables. The multivariate equation (lambda = 0.54, F14,684 = 17.55, p less than 0.0001) and the univariate equations predicting depression (F7,343 = 24.04, p less than 0.0001) and job satisfaction (F7,343 = 24.09, p less than 0.0001) were significant. Stress was a highly significant predictor of both depression (t = 12.48, df = 1, p less than 0.0001) and job satisfaction (t = -12.13, df = 1, p less than 0.0001). Older respondents were more likely to be satisfied with their jobs (t = 1.99, df = 1, p less than 0.05), and respondents who made scene responses were less likely to be satisfied (t = -2.41, df = 1, p less than 0.05). Identification of flight nurses experiencing high levels of stress and interventions to alleviate this stress, utilizing the experience of older flight nurses, and adequate preparation for scene responses may enhance job satisfaction and perhaps reduce attrition.