Factors associated with high job satisfaction among care workers in Swiss nursing homes - a cross sectional survey study

René Schwendimann, Suzanne Dhaini, Dietmar Ausserhofer, Sandra Engberg, Franziska Zúñiga, René Schwendimann, Suzanne Dhaini, Dietmar Ausserhofer, Sandra Engberg, Franziska Zúñiga

Abstract

Background: While the relationship between nurses' job satisfaction and their work in hospital environments is well known, it remains unclear, which factors are most influential in the nursing home setting. The purpose of this study was to describe job satisfaction among care workers in Swiss nursing homes and to examine its associations with work environment factors, work stressors, and health issues.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from a representative national sample of 162 Swiss nursing homes including 4,145 care workers from all educational levels (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants and aides). Care worker-reported job satisfaction was measured with a single item. Explanatory variables were assessed with established scales, as e.g. the Practice Environment Scale - Nursing Work Index. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were used to examine factors related to job satisfaction.

Results: Overall, 36.2 % of respondents reported high satisfaction with their workplace, while another 50.4 % were rather satisfied. Factors significantly associated with high job satisfaction were supportive leadership (OR = 3.76), better teamwork and resident safety climate (OR = 2.60), a resonant nursing home administrator (OR = 2.30), adequate staffing resources (OR = 1.40), fewer workplace conflicts (OR = .61), less sense of depletion after work (OR = .88), and fewer physical health problems (OR = .91).

Conclusions: The quality of nursing home leadership-at both the unit supervisor and the executive administrator level-was strongly associated with care workers' job satisfaction. Therefore, recruitment strategies addressing specific profiles for nursing home leaders are needed, followed by ongoing leadership training. Future studies should examine the effects of interventions designed to improve nursing home leadership and work environments on outcomes both for care staff and for residents.

Keywords: Care workers; Job satisfaction; Leadership; Nursing homes; Work environment.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Nursing home and care worker characteristics and workplace factors related to job satisfaction

References

    1. Damiani G, Farelli V, Anselmi A, Sicuro L, Solipaca A, Burgio A, Iezzi DF, Ricciardi W. Patterns of long term care in 29 European countries: Evidence from an exploratory study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2011;11:316. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-11-316.
    1. Fujisawa, R, Colombo F. The long-term care workforce: Overview and strategies to adapt supply to a growing demand, OECD Health Working Papers, No. 44. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2009.
    1. Jaccard Ruedin H, Weaver F, Roth M, Widmer M. Personnel de santé en Suisse – Etat des lieux et perspectives jusqu’en 2020. Neuchâtel: Schweizerisches Gesundheitsobservatorium (OBSAN); 2009.
    1. Donoghue C. Nursing home staff turnover and retention: An analysis of national level data. J Appl Gerontol. 2010;29(1):89–106. doi: 10.1177/0733464809334899.
    1. Castle NG, Engberg J, Anderson RA, Men A. Job satisfaction of nurse aides in nursing homes: Intent to leave and turnover. Gerontologist. 2007;47(2):193–204. doi: 10.1093/geront/47.2.193.
    1. Bissoondial R. Job satisfaction and its relationship on retention: A study of long-term care nurses in Ontario, Canada. unpublished dissertation. Ann Arbor: University of Phoenix, 2014.
    1. King D, Wei Z, Howe A. Work satisfaction and intention to leave among direct care workers in community and residential aged care in Australia. J Aging Soc Pol. 2013;25(4):301–19. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2013.816166.
    1. Kuo HT, Lin KC, Li IC. The mediating effects of job satisfaction on turnover intention for long-term care nurses in Taiwan. J Nurs Manag. 2014;22(2):225–33. doi: 10.1111/jonm.12044.
    1. Decker FH, Harris-Kojetin LD, Bercovitz A. Intrinsic job satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and intention to leave the job among nursing assistants in nursing homes. Gerontologist. 2009;49(5):596–610. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnp051.
    1. Kash BA, Castle NG, Naufal GS, Hawes C. Effect of staff turnover on staffing: A closer look at registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and certified nursing assistants. Gerontologist. 2006;46(5):609–619. doi: 10.1093/geront/46.5.609.
    1. Tourangeau AE, McGillis Hall L, Doran DM, Petch T. Measurement of nurse job satisfaction using the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale. Nurs Res. 2006;55(2):128–36. doi: 10.1097/00006199-200603000-00008.
    1. Lu H, Barriball KL, Zhang X, While AE. Job satisfaction among hospital nurses revisited: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2012;49(8):1017–38. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.11.009.
    1. van den Pol-Grevelink A, Jukema JS, Smits CH. Person-centred care and job satisfaction of caregivers in nursing homes: A systematic review of the impact of different forms of person-centred care on various dimensions of job satisfaction. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012;27(3):219–29. doi: 10.1002/gps.2719.
    1. Squires JE, Hoben M, Linklater S, Carleton HL, Graham N, Estabrooks CA. Job Satisfaction among care aides in residential long-term care: A systematic review of contributing factors, both individual and organizational. Nurs Res Pract. 2015;2015:157924.
    1. Chou SC, Boldy DP, Lee AH. Staff satisfaction and its components in residential aged care. Int J Qual Health Care. 2002;14(3):207–17. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.intqhc.a002612.
    1. van Beek A, Wagner C, Spreeuwenberg P, Frijters D, Ribbe M, Groenewegen P. Communication, advice exchange and job satisfaction of nursing staff: A social network analyses of 35 long-term care units. BMC Health Serv Res. 2011;11(1):140. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-11-140.
    1. Kuo H, Yin TJ, Li I. Relationship between organizational empowerment and job satisfaction perceived by nursing assistants at long-term care facilities. J Clin Nurs. 2008;17(22):3059–3066. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02072.x.
    1. Choi J, Flynn L, Aiken LH. Nursing practice environment and registered nurses’ job satisfaction in nursing homes. Gerontologist. 2012;52(4):484–492. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnr101.
    1. Han K, Trinkoff AM, Storr CL, Lerner N, Johantgen M, Gartrell K. Associations between state regulations, training length, perceived quality and job satisfaction among certified nursing assistants: Cross-sectional secondary data analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2014;51(8):1135–1141. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2013.12.008.
    1. Wallin AO, Jakobsson U, Edberg A-K. Job satisfaction and associated variables among nurse assistants working in residential care. Int Psychogeriatr. 2012;24(12):1904–1918. doi: 10.1017/S1041610212001159.
    1. Castaneda GA, Scanlan JM. Job satisfaction in nursing: A concept analysis. Nurs Forum. 2014;49(2):130–8. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12056.
    1. Probst JC, Baek JD, Laditka SB. The relationship between workplace environment and job satisfaction among nursing assistants: Findings from a national survey. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2010;11(4):246–252. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2009.08.008.
    1. Castle NG, Degenholtz H, Rosen J. Determinants of staff job satisfaction of caregivers in two nursing homes in Pennsylvania. BMC Health Serv Res. 2006;6:60. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-6-60.
    1. Parsons SK, Simmons WP, Penn K, Furlough M. Determinants of satisfaction and turnover among nursing assistants: The results of a statewide survey. J Gerontol Nurs. 2003;29(3):51–58. doi: 10.3928/0098-9134-20030301-11.
    1. Hasson H, Arnetz JE. Nursing staff competence, work strain, stress and satisfaction in elderly care: A comparison of home-based care and nursing homes. J Clin Nurs. 2008;17(4):468–481.
    1. Bishop CE, Squillace MR, Meagher J, Anderson WL, Wiener JM. Nursing home work practices and nursing assistants' job satisfaction. Gerontologist. 2009;49(5):611–622. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnp040.
    1. Prey H, Schmid M, Storni M, Mühleisen S. Zur Situation des Personals in der schweizerischen Langzeitpflege. Zürich: Rüegger; 2004.
    1. Parmelee PA, Laszlo MC, Taylor JA. Perceived barriers to effective job performance among nursing assistants in long-term care. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2009;10(8):559–567. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2009.05.001.
    1. Moyle W, Skinner J, Rowe G, Gork C. Views of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction in Australian long-term care. J Clin Nurs. 2003;12(2):168–76. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2702.2003.00732.x.
    1. Roelen CA, Mageroy N, van Rhenen W, Groothoff JW, van der Klink JJ, Pallesen S, Bjorvatn B, Moen BE. Low job satisfaction does not identify nurses at risk of future sickness absence: Results from a Norwegian cohort study. Int J Nurs Stud. 2013;50(3):366–73. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.09.012.
    1. Tourangeau A, Cranley L, Spence Laschinger HK, Pachis J. Relationships among leadership practices, work environments, staff communication and outcomes in long-term care. J Nurs Manag. 2010;18(8):1060–72. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2010.01125.x.
    1. de Jonge J, Mulder MJ, Nijhuis FJ. The incorporation of different demand concepts in the job demand-control model: Effects on health care professionals. Soc Sci Med. 1999;48(9):1149–60. doi: 10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00429-8.
    1. McGilton KS, Hall LM, Wodchis WP, Petroz U. Supervisory support, job stress, and job satisfaction among long-term care nursing staff. J Nurs Adm. 2007;37(7–8):366–72. doi: 10.1097/01.NNA.0000285115.60689.4b.
    1. Rodwell J, Noblet A, Demir D, Steane P. The impact of the work conditions of allied health professionals on satisfaction, commitment and psychological distress. Health Care Manag Rev. 2009;34(3):273–83. doi: 10.1097/HMR.0b013e31819e76da.
    1. te Boekhorst S, Willemse B, Depla MF, Eefsting JA, Pot AM. Working in group living homes for older people with dementia: The effects on job satisfaction and burnout and the role of job characteristics. Int Psychogeriatr. 2008;20(5):927–40. doi: 10.1017/S1041610208007291.
    1. Tyler DA, Parker VA, Engle RL, Brandeis GH, Hickey EC, Rosen AK, Wang F, Berlowitz DR. An exploration of job design in long-term care facilities and its effect on nursing employee satisfaction. Health Care Manag Rev. 2006;31(2):137–44. doi: 10.1097/00004010-200604000-00007.
    1. Bundesamt für Statistik. Indikatoren der Pflegeheime 2013. Neuchâtel: Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS); 2015. Retrieved from . Accessed 4 Jun 2016.
    1. Zúñiga F, Ausserhofer D, Serdaly C, Bassal C, De Geest S, Schwendimann R. Survey of care workers in Swiss nursing homes - final report. Basel: Universität Basel; 2013. Retrieved from . Accessed 4 Jun 2016.
    1. Schwendimann R, Zúñiga F, Ausserhofer D, Schubert M, Engberg S, De Geest S. Swiss Nursing Homes Human Resources Project (SHURP): Protocol of an observational study. J Adv Nurs. 2014;70(4):915–26. doi: 10.1111/jan.12253.
    1. Dolbier CL, Webster JA, McCalister KT, Mallon MW, Steinhardt MA. Reliability and validity of a single-item measure of job satisfaction. Am J Health Promot. 2005;19(3):194–8. doi: 10.4278/0890-1171-19.3.194.
    1. Aiken LH, Sermeus W, Van den Heede K, Sloane DM, Busse R, McKee M, Bruyneel L, Rafferty AM, Griffiths P, Moreno-Casbas MT, Tishelman C, Scott A, Brzostek T, Kinnunen J, Schwendimann R, Heinen M, Zikos D, Sjetne IS, Smith HL, Kutney-Lee A. Patient safety, satisfaction, and quality of hospital care: Cross sectional surveys of nurses and patients in 12 countries in Europe and the United States. BMJ. 2012;344 doi: 10.1136/bmj.e1717.
    1. Havig AK, Skogstad A, Veenstra M, Romøren TI. The effects of leadership and ward factors on job satisfaction in nursing homes: A multilevel approach. J Clin Nurs. 2011;20(23–24):3532–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03697.x.
    1. Field A. Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. London: Sage; 2009.
    1. Eurofound . Fifth european working conditions survey. Luxemburg: Publications Office of the European Union; 2012.
    1. Grebner S, Berlowitz I, Alvarado V, Cassina M. Stresstudie 2010. Stress bei Schweizer Ererbstätigen. Bern: Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO; 2011.
    1. Forbes-Thompson S, Leiker T, Bleich MR. High-performing and low-performing nursing homes: A view from complexity science. Health Care Manag Rev. 2007;32(4):341–351. doi: 10.1097/01.HMR.0000296789.39128.f6.
    1. Auer C, Schwendimann R, Koch R, De Geest S, Ausserhofer D. How hospital leaders contribute to patient safety through the development of trust. J Nurs Adm. 2014;44(1):23–9. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000017.
    1. Harvath TA, Swafford K, Smith K, Miller LL, Volpin M, Sexson K, White D, Young HA. Enhancing nursing leadership in long-term care. A review of the literature. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2008;1(3):187–96. doi: 10.3928/00220124-20091301-06.
    1. Cummings GG, MacGregor T, Davey M, Lee H, Wong CA, Lo E, Muise M, Stafford E. Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: a systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2010;47(3):363–85. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.08.006.
    1. Voon ML, Lo MC, Ngui KS, Ayob NB. The influence of leadership styles on employees’ job satisfaction in public sector organizations in Malaysia. Int J Bus Manag Soc Sci. 2011;2(1):24–32.
    1. Donoghue C, Castle NG. Leadership styles of nursing home administrators and their association with staff turnover. Gerontologist. 2009;49(2):166–174. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnp021.
    1. Toles M, Anderson RA. State of the science: relationship-oriented management practices in nursing homes. Nurs Outlook. 2011;59(4):221–7. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2011.05.001.
    1. Scott-Cawiezell J, Vogelsmeier A, McKenney C, Rantz M, Hicks L, Zellmer D. Moving from a culture of blame to a culture of safety in the nursing home setting. Nursing Forum. 2006;41(3):133–140. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6198.2006.00049.x.
    1. Abualrub RF, Gharaibeh HF, Bashayreh AE. The relationships between safety climate, teamwork, and intent to stay at work among Jordanian hospital nurses. Nursing Forum. 2012;47(1):65–75. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6198.2011.00253.x.
    1. Lorber M, Skela Savic B. Job satisfaction of nurses and identifying factors of job satisfaction in Slovenian Hospitals. Croat Med J. 2012;53(3):263–70. doi: 10.3325/cmj.2012.53.263.
    1. Lapane KL, Hughes CM. Considering the employee point of view: Perceptions of job satisfaction and stress among nursing staff in nursing homes. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2007;8(1):8–13. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2006.05.010.
    1. Cortese CG, Colombo L, Ghislieri C. Determinants of nurses' job satisfaction: The role of work-family conflict, job demand, emotional charge and social support. J Nurs Manag. 2010;18(1):35–43. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2009.01064.x.
    1. De Dreu CK, Beersma B. Conflict in organizations: Beyond effectiveness and performance. Eur J Work Organ Psychol. 2005;14(2):105–117. doi: 10.1080/13594320444000227.
    1. Ruggiero JS. Health, work variables, and job satisfaction among nurses. J Nurs Adm. 2005;35(5):254–63. doi: 10.1097/00005110-200505000-00009.
    1. Lake ET. Development of the practice environment scale of the Nursing Work Index. Res Nurs Health. 2002;25(3):176–88. doi: 10.1002/nur.10032.
    1. Sexton JB, Helmreich RL, Neilands TB, Rowan K, Vella K, Boyden J, Roberts PR, Thomas EJ. The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire: Psychometric properties, benchmarking data, and emerging research. BMC Health Serv Res. 2006;6:44. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-6-44.
    1. Wolfgang AP. The health professions stress inventory. Psychol Rep. 1988;62(1):220–222. doi: 10.2466/pr0.1988.62.1.220.
    1. Eidgenössisches Departement des Inneren and Bundesamt für Statistik. Schweizerische Gesundheitsbefragung 2012 - Telefonischer und schriftlicher Fragebogen; Abteilung für Gesundheit und Soziales, 2014. Retrieved from .
    1. Maslach C, Jackson SE. The measurement of experienced burnout. J Occup Behav. 1981;2(2):99–113. doi: 10.1002/job.4030020205.

Source: PubMed

Sponsorer och medarbetare

Medicinska tillstånd

Läkemedelsinterventioner

3
Prenumerera