Job satisfaction among critical care nurses.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a conceptual path model to explain the effects of a set of personal and work-related independent variables and the dependent variables of situational stress, job stress and job motivation on job satisfaction among critical care nurses.

DESIGN

A prospective descriptive study using a conceptual path model.

SETTING

Nine hospitals licensed for at least 250 beds in the northeastern, northwestern, northcentral, and southern regions of Florida.

SAMPLE

Three hundred female critical care nurses employed in the nine hospitals who had worked full-time for at least 3 months.

MEASUREMENTS

Subjects were administered a demographic and work survey questionnaire, Daily Hassles Instrument, Psychological Hardiness Test and the Job Diagnostic Inventory.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

A conceptual path model was constructed to illustrate the effects of a set of personal and work-related independent variables and the dependent variables of situational stress, job stress and job motivation on job satisfaction.

MAIN RESULTS

Path analysis of a job satisfaction model resulted in a causal progression of situational stress leading to either job stress or job motivation, both affecting job satisfaction. The results showed that job stress, job motivation, job expectations, meaningful work, knowledge of work results, commitment to career, health difficulties, task identity, supervision, dealing with others at work, opportunity for advancement, pay and job security had a significant effect on job satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Thirteen variables had a significant effect on job satisfaction and explained 63% of the variance. The four most significant effects on job satisfaction were opportunities for advancement, meaningfulness of work, pay and supervision. Commitment to the career, task identity and job security had a modest effect on job satisfaction.