The effect of primary nursing job design dimensions on caregiving technology and job performance in nursing homes.

Primary nursing job design, ie permanent assignment and increased job autonomy and communication, has been suggested as especially appropriate for long-term care. The present study examined its effects on nursing home assistants' (N = 248) job performance and technology perceptions. Job design was found to have a significant effect on caregiving technology, even after controlling for individual differences. In particular, increased autonomy was significantly related to increased task variability which suggests that nursing assistants who have more job autonomy provide more customized care. Unexpectedly, increased duration of assignment was significantly related to increased homogeneity of tasks. Suggestions for future job design research in long-term care are made.