Page 301 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

268 n JoB SATISFACTIoN

Developers of some dimension-specific tools other unit-level database indicators (e.g.,
report techniques for calculating a composite nursing care hours per patient day, nurs-
J measure. For example, Lake (2002) describes ing staffing mix, pressure ulcers, patient
averaging the subscale scores for a PES-NWI falls, and patient satisfaction) as part of the
total score. Composite scores derived from American Nurses Association Safety and
dimension-specific instruments should be Quality initiative. Boyle, Miller, Gajewski,
distinguished from estimates of global job Hart, and Dunton (2006) reported further
satisfaction. examination of the unit level properties of
Researchers choose measures of job satis- the NDNQI-adapted IWS. Individual-, unit-,
faction based on the aims of the study. Global and organization-level psychometric prop-
job satisfaction tools are most often used to erties have been reported for the PES-NWI
predict important employee outcomes such (Gajewski, Boyle, Miller, obserhelman, &
as turnover or patient outcomes such as mor- Dunton, 2009; Lake, 2002). Although job sat-
tality. Dimension-specific scales are used to isfaction has most frequently been examined
examine different strengths and weaknesses at the individual or organization level, sig-
of organizations and to assess the effective- nificant differences between acute care unit
ness of targeted interventions. types have been found (Boyle et al., 2006).
Important conceptual and measurement These differences highlight the need to care-
issues complicate the study of nursing job fully consider the most appropriate level in
satisfaction. It is unclear whether job satis- all study designs.
faction and dissatisfaction are opposite ends The important effect of cultural values
of a single continuum or two separate con- on nursing job satisfaction is not well under-
structs. Although job satisfaction currently stood. Recently, progress has been made
is reported most often in the literature, the in validating instruments for nurses in an
terms satisfaction and dissatisfaction are increasing number of countries, advancing
used inconsistently and sometimes inter- our understanding of the job satisfaction in
changeably. A more recent concern is the pos- the international nursing community. The
sibility that positive and negative affectivity, migration of nurses in response to the evolv-
which are mood-dispositional personality ing global nursing shortage brings new mea-
traits, contaminates effects of determinants surement challenges in destination countries.
(e.g., autonomy, stress, burnout) on strain- In addition, the effects of changes in social
related variables such as job satisfaction. In a values and orientation to work over time and
meta-analysis of affective underpinnings of across age groups are not well understood.
job perceptions, Thoresen, Kaplan, Barskky, Researchers also must consider modifica-
Warren, and de Chermont (2003) found that tions in nursing job satisfaction theory and
both positive and negative affect uniquely measurement required by the profound
contributed to the prediction of job satisfac- changes occurring in health care facilities,
tion, organizational commitment, emotional particularly in the role of technology as well
exhaustion, and personal accomplishment. as in organizational structure and manage-
The multilevel nature common in job ment (Tovey & Adams, 1999).
satisfaction research requires alignment of Researchers (Blegen, 1993; Irvine &
conceptual and measurement levels of stud- Evans, 1995) conducting meta-analyses
ies. Most job satisfaction instruments were of accumulated nursing job satisfaction
developed and validated for individuals. research have found that autonomy, stress,
Taunton et al. (2004) adapted the IWS for commitment to the organization, and intent
use in the National Database of Nursing to stay in the job demonstrate the strongest,
®
Quality Indicators (NDNQI ). The adapta- most consistent correlations with job sat-
tion aligned NDNQI-adapted IWS data with isfaction; autonomy and stress usually are