Job Satisfaction Among Home Healthcare Nurses

Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in the Relationship Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Emotional State of Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND

Work-related stress among healthcare employees can lead to burnout, worsened mood, and job dissatisfaction. Although physical activity is known to enhance mood and mental health, its impact on job satisfaction and emotional well-being in healthcare workers is under-researched. This study aimed to explore the associations between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), job satisfaction, and emotional state and to investigate the mediating role of job satisfaction in the effect of LTPA on the emotional state of healthcare workers.

METHODS

A self-administered questionnaire, including items on LTPA, job satisfaction, and the emotional state, was distributed to 98 healthcare workers affiliated with the Bari Polyclinic Hospital (Mean age = 46.3; SD = 15.4 years). Composite measures of global job satisfaction and emotional state were extracted by Factor Analysis using the principal components method. The relationship between LTPA, job satisfaction, and the emotional state was investigated through General Linear Model (GLM) mediation models.

RESULTS

There was no significant direct effect of LTPA on negative emotional states (β = -0.08, p = 0.37). However, job satisfaction significantly mediated this relationship (β = -0.09, p = 0.04), indicating that engaging in LTPA increased job satisfaction, which in turn reduced negative emotional states. Similarly, LTPA did not have a significant direct effect on positive emotional states (β = 0.06, p = 0.48), but it indirectly resulted in increased positive emotional states through its positive impact on job satisfaction (β = 0.12, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that LTPA indirectly influences both negative and positive emotional states through job satisfaction. Engaging in LTPA enhances job satisfaction, which subsequently leads to reductions in negative emotional states and increases in positive emotional states among healthcare workers. These results underscore the importance of promoting physical activity as a strategy to improve job satisfaction (JS) and the emotional well-being of healthcare workers.

Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction among Mental Health Nurses: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Job satisfaction is crucial for healthcare professionals, and understanding its influencing factors is essential for fostering a positive work environment, reducing turnover rates, and improving the overall quality of patient care. This systematic review examined the factors linked to nurse job satisfaction in psychiatric hospitals and diverse psychiatric settings, analyzing the findings through the lens of Herzberg's theory. Despite existing evidence, gaps remain in understanding the differences in factors affecting job satisfaction across various settings.

METHODS

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review by searching six databases, namely PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Scopus, and APA PsycNet. Our search yielded an initial 567 studies published between January 2014 and February 2024, which were subsequently screened and evaluated based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Following this process, a total of 16 studies were deemed eligible for final analysis. Each of these selected studies underwent an independent review by two authors, utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist tool to ensure rigorous assessment.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that interpersonal relationships, working conditions, and recognition were the most frequently reported factors associated with nurse job satisfaction, along with various extrinsic, intrinsic, personal, emotional, and psychosocial factors. Notably, psychiatric hospitals showed a mix of personal, extrinsic, intrinsic, and psychosocial factors influencing job satisfaction, with demographic factors being the most frequently examined. In contrast, diverse psychiatric settings focused more on external aspects impacting job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The review highlights the importance of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors and suggests that future research should employ more robust methods and consider psychiatric hospitals and other mental health contexts. Herzberg's theory provides a valuable framework for understanding the factors associated with nurse job satisfaction.

Safety Concerns Associated with Home Care Nursing

Compared to nurses in acute care settings, home care nurses face unique threats to safety, including unsanitary conditions in homes, dangerous pets, firearms in the home, hostile patients or family members, high-crime neighborhoods, and motor vehicle accidents while traveling between patients. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore specific personal safety and environmental concerns faced by home care nurses. Seventy-five home care and home hospice nurses completed an anonymous Qualtrics survey. Seventy-eight percent admitted to feeling unsafe during a home visit. Safety threats included unsafe neighborhoods, aggressive dogs, aggressive or drug-seeking family members, patients with mental health concerns, sexual harassment, and most alarmingly feeling threatened by a firearm. Participants also identified environmental concerns such as secondhand smoke and bedbugs, and a high number of musculoskeletal injuries they perceived to be related to their work in home care. Home care is a rapidly growing industry with a critical need to attract and retain workers. Safety training specific to the workers' role should be offered at the time of hire and annually thereafter. Home care nurses should be aware of threats to safety and employ the strategies of preparation, awareness, alertness, and prevention before and during visits.

Becoming an Expert Home Health Nurse

The purpose of this article is to discuss the five levels of skill acquisition (novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert) developed by Patricia Benner and colleagues, within the unique context of home health nursing. Descriptions of practice at each level are provided and can help nurses have reasonable expectations of performance. Recommendations are made for competence-based clinical support programs such as orientation, mentoring, and clinical ladders that identify, measure, and reward clinical knowledge and skill.