Factors affecting the job stress and job satisfaction of Australian nurses: Implications for recruitment and retention
Timothy Bartram
School of Business, Faculty of Law and Management, La Trobe University
Therese A Joiner
School of Business, La Trobe University, VIC
Pauline Stanton
Senior Lecturer, School of Management, La Trobe University, VIC
PP: 293 - 304
Abstract
Against a background of nurse shortages in Australian hospitals, a significant challenge facing the healthcare sector is the recruitment and retention of nurses. The job stress and job satisfaction of nurses has been associated with recruitment and retention.
The aim of this study is to consider two factors that may contribute to the job satisfaction and job stress of nurses: social support and empowerment. Using a sample of 157 registered nurses in a private hospital in Melbourne, Australia, we found that social support derived from the nurse's supervisor and work colleagues lowers job stress and at the same time increases job satisfaction. The presence of nurse empowerment, meaning, impact, competence and self-determination, also lowered job stress and increased job satisfaction.
Finally, we discuss contributions of this study and implications for recruitment and retention of nurses in the health sector.
Keywords
social support; job stress; job satisfaction; empowerment; nurse recruitment; nurse retention
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