Factors influencing nurse managers' job satisfaction

Abstract

This descriptive,, exploratory study which was conducted in a Maltese general hospital investigates factors influencing nurse managers' job satisfaction. The sample consisted of all nurse managers working within medical and surgical wards (n=14) who had at least six months working experience and worked full time. The findings indicate that nurse mangers working within general medical and surgical wards experience a moderate level of job satisfaction. Various nurse managers rated and expressed their job satisfaction towards several issues differently. Nurse managers' job satisfaction was mostly negatively effected by work overload, lack of staff and medical dominance. Other variables such as lack of cooperation with superiors, bureaucracy and working environment ranked after. These led to further job dissatisfaction due to stress at work. An expression for better autonomy, salaries and good communication was also obtained in the responses. Nurse managers were noted to be satisfied mostly by the nature of the work itself. This includes management of patients' care, right for decision making and working within the health care team. Several recommendations suggested by the respondents for improved job satisfaction at work included better organization, more autonomy, increased resources and better cooperation with top line management. The opportunity to update knowledge through suitable courses with the objective to improve managerial skills is recommended for local nurse managers. It is recommended that the study is repeated including a more qualitative approach questions so as to obtain more in depth knowledge about this issue.