Comparison of factors affecting the level of job satisfaction of certificated and non-certificated nurses

Abstract

This study aims to determine and compare the factors that affect job satisfaction level of certificated and non-certificated nurses in public hospitals, private hospitals, and teaching and research hospitals which belong to the Ministry of Health in Istanbul. Six hundred and sixty nurses (F=579, M=81) aged between 18 and 58 were chosen by convenience sampling. As a framework to guide the design of the study Herzberg's Motivational-Hygiene Theory (1982) was used, and as an instrument Spector’s (1985) Job Satisfaction Survey was administered. In addition to the questionnaire, nurses were also asked four open-ended questions about their work motivations and demotivations, the reasons for their career choice, and if they have ever considered leaving their jobs. Results indicate that nurses who work at private hospitals have a higher level of job satisfaction than the nurses working at teaching and research hospitals and public hospitals. There is no significant difference between the level of job satisfaction of certificated and non-certificated nurses in general. However, there is a significant difference between the means of hospital types and sub-dimensions of Job Satisfaction Survey (pay, promotion, supervision, fringe benefits, contingent rewards, operating conditions, co-workers, nature of work, communication). In addition, according to the relationship between the job satisfaction level of nurses and their demographic characteristics; there is a relationship between sub-dimensions of job satisfaction and age/gender. Also, there is no relationship job satisfaction and marital status/having children. It is indicated that while patient satisfaction, alturistics reasons, economic reasons, relations with colleageus and administration and working conditions are motivating factors; economic reasons, working conditions, problems with patients, relations with collegues and administration, conflict between nurses and doctors, personal reasons and social status are demotivating factors. The reasons for leaving nursing categorized under unpleasant working conditions, personal reasons, economics reasons, social status, administration and others. The most important reasons for choosing nursing as a job were economic reasons, family reasons, altruistic reasons, task identity, task significance, wrong university choice.