THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG MOTIVATIONAL ORIENTATIONS, JOB SATISFACTION, AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF STAFF NURSES IN ACUTE CARE URBAN HOSPITALS (NEW YORK).
Contributors: Columbia University. Teachers College.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 169
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This research was a descriptive study of the motivational orientations and aspects of job satisfaction underlying reasons fulltime and parttime nurses work in acute care urban hospitals. The goal of this research was to add to the body of knowledge relevant to recruitment and retention of nurses.

The theoretic basis for work motivation was Maslow's (1987) theory of human motivation. The theory is based on the concept that work is a motivated behavior and people attend work to meet their higher needs.

A random sample of 100 fulltime and 50 parttime nurses were selected from four New York City medical centers. The questionnaires included one on work motivation, one on job reward/satisfaction, one nurse demographic sheet, and an informed consent. Data collection involved site visits to each of the participating hospitals and personal and/or telephone contact with each participant. Data analysis occurred on two levels: (1) the individual nurses, and (2) the subgroups, which included fulltime and parttime nurses. Relationships between work motivation and employment status were measured by t tests. The relationships between work motivation and job satisfaction as well as the relationships between work motivation and nurse demographic data were measured by Pearson product-moment correlations.

The three major findings in this research were: (1) fulltime and parttime nurses were motivated by their need for self-actualization. Generally fulltime and parttime nurses were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their jobs. However, areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction for both fulltime and parttime nurses were demonstrated. (3) Several work motivation dimensions were significantly correlated with the job reward/satisfaction variables. Finally, a few nurse demographic variables related significantly to work motivation.

Implications of this study include: Nursing executives must recognize nurses' growth needs. Maximize job satisfaction through psychological rewards associated with work. Compensate nurses for working weekends. Establish hospital sponsored child care facilities, and reconsider the nursing salary structure.

The limitations of this research are due to the voluntary sample, restricted sample and small sample size, and the inherent bias of survey research.

Several areas for future research were identified.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-09, Section: B, page: 3677.

Thesis (ED.D.)--COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TEACHERS COLLEGE, 1988.

School code: 0055.