The effects of nurses' job satisfaction on retention: an Australian perspective.

OBJECTIVE

The effectiveness of any strategy that aims to improve recruitment and retention in the nursing profession will depend in part upon understanding the factors and influences on nurses' job satisfaction.

BACKGROUND

The nursing work force is aging. The question now commonly asked by the nursing profession worldwide is: Who will replace this work force? Although the number of employed nurses continues to decline, patient acuity and turnover in our healthcare system continues to increase. This increasing dilemma is further deepened by progressively falling annual recruitment of new nurses and has resulted in an alarming shortfall of nurses.

METHODS

This study used a multigroup longitudinal design to elicit nurses' attitudes toward their job satisfaction and retention plans.

RESULTS

The results revealed that professional status was found to be significant of retention. The results indicated that job satisfaction remained relatively stable with time for experienced nurses (N = 528/332). For new graduates (N = 506/110) the issue of pay became a significant area of dissatisfaction in the transition from student to registered nurse.

CONCLUSION

The results from this study contribute to the expanding body of knowledge that indicates professional status, autonomy, and remuneration are career issues of great concern for nurses and is particularly relevant for the retention of the newly registered nurse.