Job satisfaction in relation to change to all-RN staffing.

BACKGROUND

A university hospital clinic changed from a mixed to only registered nurse staffing, to reduce the staff and to encourage a philosophy of patient centred care. The aim was to maintain the same level of service and quality of care at a lower cost.

AIM

The main purpose of the study was to examine job satisfaction in relation to the change from mixed to only registered nurse staffing and reduction in number of staff.

METHODS

Data were collected by an established questionnaire measuring job satisfaction. Non-parametric statistics were used to analyse the data. The questionnaire was distributed to 22 nurses on the ward on three occasions, covering a period of 3 years.

RESULT

The experience of having time to plan patient care changed during the investigation period, from 'sometimes' to 'most often having time'. Nurses with longer work experience gave more verbal information to patients and perceived less stress. Information about job performance was more important to newcomers on the ward and became less important with time. However, quite a few have had regrets over choice of work and had considered non-caring work, nevertheless the results show no significant changes in overall job satisfaction.