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Canadian Public Health Nurses' Job Satisfaction
Author(s) -
Best Maureen F.,
Thurston Norma E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2006.230307.x
Subject(s) - job satisfaction , autonomy , nursing , patient satisfaction , public health , test (biology) , psychology , health care , public health nursing , family medicine , descriptive statistics , medicine , applied psychology , social psychology , biology , economic growth , paleontology , statistics , mathematics , political science , law , economics
Objectives: This study was undertaken to test the applicability of using a standardized questionnaire for measuring public health nurse (PHN) job satisfaction and to determine whether or not scores changed over 30 months. The importance of establishing a method for ongoing measurement of PHN job satisfaction was underscored by changing directions in practice and an emphasis on building public health capacity. Method: A 30‐month interval, repeated measures descriptive survey design was used. Sample: A randomly selected sample of 87 PHNs employed within 1 Canadian regional health authority participated. Measurement: The survey questionnaire, the Index of Worklife Satisfaction, was designed to measure the importance of and satisfaction with 6 components of job satisfaction. Results: Pay and autonomy were the most important components; the order of the 4 remaining components changed from first to second surveys. Professional status, autonomy, and interaction were the most satisfying components; PHN satisfaction with professional status and interaction improved significantly over 30 months. A majority of subjects reported that direct client care/client response/making a difference were worklife aspects providing them with most satisfaction. Conclusions: A valid, reliable questionnaire suitable for ongoing measurement was tested with PHNs, and baseline levels of their job satisfaction were established.