Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T16:23:30.577Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Job satisfaction and associated variables among nurse assistants working in residential care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

Anneli Orrung Wallin ,
Ulf Jakobsson  and
Anna-Karin Edberg
Anneli Orrung Wallin*
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Ulf Jakobsson
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Center for Primary Health Care Research, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Anna-Karin Edberg
Affiliation:
Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden The Swedish Institute for Health Sciences, Vårdalinstitutet, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Anneli Orrung Wallin, Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. Phone: +46 46 222 19 23; Fax: +46 46 222 19 34. Email: anneli.orrung_wallin@med.lu.se.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: While the work situation for nurse assistants in residential care is strenuous, they themselves often state that they are satisfied with their job. More knowledge is clearly needed of the interrelationship of variables associated with job satisfaction. This study aims to investigate job satisfaction and explore associated variables among nurse assistants working in residential care.

Methods: A total of 225 respondents completed a questionnaire measuring general job satisfaction, satisfaction with nursing-care provision and measures concerning person-centered care, work climate, leadership, and health complaints. Job satisfaction was the outcome measure and comparisons were made among those reporting low, moderate, and high levels of job satisfaction; multiple regression analyses were used to explore associated variables.

Results: The caring climate and personalized care provision were associated with general job satisfaction. High levels of satisfaction with nursing-care provision were also associated with the general work climate, organizational and environmental support, and leadership. Low job satisfaction was mainly associated with health complaints.

Conclusions: Nurse assistants working in a positive work climate, caring climate, with a positive attitude to their leaders, who receive organizational and environmental support, provide person-centered care and experience a higher degree of job satisfaction. It seems essential, however, to include both general and context-specific measures when investigating job satisfaction in this field as they reveal different aspects of the nurse assistant's work situation.

Keywords

work satisfactionnursesaged careperson-centered carework climateleadershipquestionnairescross-sectional
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 12 , December 2012 , pp. 1904 - 1918
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Antonovsky, A. (1987). Unraveling the Mystery of Health: How People Manage Stress and Stay Well. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Brodaty, H., Draper, B. and Low, L. F. (2003). Nursing home staff attitudes towards residents with dementia: strain and satisfaction with work. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 44, 583–590.Google Scholar
Castle, N. G., Degenholtz, H. and Rosen, J. (2006). Determinants of staff job satisfaction of caregivers in two nursing homes in Pennsylvania. BMC Health Services Research, 6, 60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coomber, B. and Barriball, K. L. (2007). Impact of job satisfaction components on intent to leave and turnover for hospital-based nurses: a review of the research literature. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 44, 297–314.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Nachreiner, F. and Schaufeli, W. B. (2000). A model of burnout and life satisfaction amongst nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32, 454–464.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edberg, A.-K., Anderson, K., Orrung Wallin, A. and Bird, M. (2009). Strain in nursing care of people with dementia – identifying aspects of importance as a first step towards preventive means. International Psychogeriatrics, 21 (Supplement 2): S161–162.Google Scholar
Edvardsson, D., Sandman, P. O., Nay, R. and Karlsson, S. (2008). Associations between the working characteristics of nursing staff and the prevalence of behavioral symptoms in people with dementia in residential care. International Psychogeriatrics, 20, 764–776.Google Scholar
Edvardsson, D., Sandman, P. O., Nay, R. and Karlsson, S. (2009a). Predictors of job strain in residential dementia care nursing staff. Journal of Nursing Management, 17, 59–65.Google Scholar
Edvardsson, D., Sandman, P. O. and Rasmussen, B. (2009b). Construction and psychometric evaluation of the Swedish language Person-centred Climate Questionnaire - staff version. Journal of Nursing Management, 17, 790–795.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edvardsson, D., Fetherstonhaugh, D., Nay, R. and Gibson, S. (2010). Development and initial testing of the Person-centered Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT). International Psychogeriatrics, 22, 101–108.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edvardsson, D., Fetherstonhaugh, D., McAuliffe, L., Nay, R. and Chenco, C. (2011). Job satisfaction amongst aged care staff: exploring the influence of person-centered care provision. International Psychogeriatrics, 23, 1205–1212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ekvall, G. (2001). Manual Job Satisfaction (Formulär Arbetstillfredsställelse). Stockholm: Ekvall Organisationspsykologi (in Swedish).Google Scholar
Ekvall, G. (2004). Creative Organizational Climate. Validity of the Concept and of a Measurement Tool - The Creative Climate Questionnaire, CCQ. Stockholm: Ekvall Organisationspsykologi.Google Scholar
Ekvall, G. and Arvonen, J. (1994). Leadership profiles, situation and effectiveness. Creativity and Innovation Management, 3, 139–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engström, M., Ljunggren, B., Lindqvist, R. and Carlsson, M. (2006). Staff satisfaction with work, perceived quality of care and stress in elderly care: psychometric assessments and associations. Journal of Nursing Management, 14, 318–328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Engström, M., Skytt, B. and Nilsson, A. (2011). Working life and stress symptoms among caregivers in elderly care with formal and no formal competence. Journal of Nursing Management, 19, 732–741.Google Scholar
Hackman, J. R. and Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work: test of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16, 250–279.Google Scholar
Hasson, H. and Arnetz, J. E. (2008). Nursing staff competence, work strain, stress and satisfaction in elderly care: a comparison of home-based care and nursing homes. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17, 468–481.Google Scholar
Herzberg, F. (1966). Work and the Nature of Man. Cleveland: World Pub. Co. Google Scholar
Judge, T. et al. (2001). Job satifaction: a cross-cultural review. In Anderson, N., Ones, D. S., Sinangil, H. K., & Viswesvaran, C. (Eds.), Handbook of Industrial, Work & Organizational Psychology (pp. 25–52). London, UK: Sage.Google Scholar
Locke, E. A. (1976). The nature and causes of job satisfaction. In Dunnette, M. D. (ed.), Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (p. 1304). Chicago, IL: Rand McNally.Google Scholar
Lu, H., While, A. E. and Barriball, L. (2007). A model of job satisfaction of nurses: a reflection of nurses’ working lives in Mainland China. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 58, 468–479.Google Scholar
McCormack, B. et al. (2010). Developing person-centred practice: nursing outcomes arising from changes to the care environment in residential settings for older people. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 5, 93–107.Google Scholar
Morgan, D. G., Stewart, N. J., D'Arcy, C., Forbes, D. and Lawson, J. (2005). Work stress and physical assault of nursing aides in rural nursing homes with and without dementia special care units. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 12, 347–358.Google Scholar
Moyle, W., Skinner, J., Rowe, G. and Gork, C. (2003). Views of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction in Australian long-term care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 12, 168–176.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Board of Health and Welfare (2010). National Guidelines for Care in Cases of Dementia (Nationella riktlinjer för vård och omsorg vid demenssjukdom). Stockholm: National Board of Health and Welfare (in Swedish).Google Scholar
Norman, G. R. and Streiner, D. L. (2008). Biostatistics: The Bare Essentials, 3rd edn, Hamilton: B.C. Decker.Google Scholar
Pekkarinen, L., Sinervo, T., Elovainio, M., Noro, A., Finne-Soveri, H. and Leskinen, E. (2006). Resident care needs and work stressors in special care units versus non-specialized long-term care units. Research in Nursing & Health, 29, 465–476.Google Scholar
SALAR (2009). Open Comparisons 2009: Care and Service for Older People (öppna jämförelser 2009: Vård och omsorg om äldre). Stockholm: Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (in Swedish).Google Scholar
Sellgren, S. F., Ekvall, G. and Tomson, G. (2008). Leadership behaviour of nurse managers in relation to job satisfaction and work climate. Journal of Nursing Management, 16, 578–587.Google Scholar
SFS (2003:460). The Act Concerning the Ethical Review of Research Involving Humans (Lag om etikprövning av forskning som avser männiksor). Stockholm: Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (in Swedish).Google Scholar
Sjögren, K., Lindkvist, M., Sandman, P. O., Zingmark, K. and Edvardsson, D. (2012). Psychometric evaluation of the Swedish version of the Person-Centered Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT). International Psychogeriatrics, 24, 406–415.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Te Boekhorst, S., Willemse, B., Depla, M. F. A., Eefsting, J. A. and Pot, A. M. (2008). Working in group living homes for older people with dementia: the effects on job satisfaction and burnout and the role of job characteristics. International Psychogeriatrics, 20, 927–940.Google Scholar
Tellis-Nayak, V. (2007). A person-centered workplace: the foundation for person-centered caregiving in long-term care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 8, 46–54.Google Scholar
Tourangeau, A., Cranley, L., Spence Laschinger, H. K. and Pachis, J. (2010). Relationships among leadership practices, work environments, staff communication and outcomes in long-term care. Journal of Nursing Management, 18, 1060–1072.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zimmerman, S. et al. (2005). Attitudes, stress, and satisfaction of staff who care for residents with dementia. Gerontologist, 45, 96–105.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed