Factors Associated With Nurses' Job Satisfaction In Residential Long-term Care: The Importance of Organizational Context.

OBJECTIVES

We examined demographic, individual, and organizational context factors associated with nurses' job satisfaction in residential long-term care (LTC) settings. Job satisfaction has implications for staff turnover, staff health, and quality of care.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional analysis of survey data collected in the Translating Research in Elder Care program.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

N = 756 nurses (registered nurses: n = 308; licensed practical nurses: n = 448) from 89 residential LTC settings in 3 Western Canadian provinces.

METHODS

We used a generalized estimating equation model to assess demographic, individual, and organizational context factors associated with job satisfaction. Job satisfaction was measured using the Michigan Organizational Assessment Questionnaire Job Satisfaction Scale.

RESULTS

Demographic, individual, and organizational context factors were associated with job satisfaction among nurses in residential LTC settings. At the demographic level, hours worked in 2 weeks (B = 0.002, P = .043) was associated with job satisfaction. At the individual level, emotional exhaustion-burnout (B = -0.063, P = .02) was associated with lower job satisfaction, while higher scores on empowerment (meaning) (B = 0.140, P = .015), work engagement (vigor) (B = 0.096, P = .01), and work engagement (dedication) (B = 0.129, P = .001) were associated with higher job satisfaction. With respect to organizational context, culture (B = 0.175, P < .001), organizational slack-space (eg, perceived availability and use of adequate space; B = 0.043, P = .040), and adequate orientation (B = 0.092, P < .001) were associated with higher job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

We identified previously unexamined modifiable organizational features (organizational slack-space and adequate orientation) as factors associated with LTC nurses' job satisfaction in the Canadian context. Our findings support future efforts to improve job satisfaction through improvements in organizational space and provision of adequate workplace orientation.