Job Satisfaction between Experienced Medical-Surgical Nurses - Article Example

In addition, 50% of all nursing graduates leave their first job within the first two years. Compounded with the aging population of registered nurses, the problem is yet to be solved.

However, most of these literature materials analyze the problem from a business perspective. Although health organizations operate under fundamental business principles, job satisfaction issues require professional analysis. Ideally, the article intends to express the severity of the looming nurse’s shortages, determine the leading factors, and hypothesize possible solutions to the nurses’ recruitment and retention question. The author intended to develop sufficient solutions to fundamental research questions. Firstly, the author wanted to establish the role of job satisfaction in employee retention. Additionally, the article explores the role of workload and incentives on the recruitment and retention of a specialized nurses. Issues of remuneration and the need to harmonize the salary of nurses with those of other civil servants are also featured in the article. 

The researcher utilized quantitative techniques for (n=62). Questionnaires were the main research tools applied in the research. Samples were drawn from the qualified nurse in critical and surgical care units of five Southern States Hospitals that were identified for the study. The researchers distributed 201 questionnaires, of which 121 were considered valid. The nursing job satisfaction scale NJSS was used alongside the questionnaires to gauge the level of satisfaction among nurses (Davis, Ward, Woodall, Shultz, & Davis, 2007). Additionally, other researchers relied on demographic materials to collect essential information. Critical information acquired from demographic materials included level of education, experience, and age and employment status of nurses. Participation in the research was on a voluntary basis. This element was essential in ensuring the equal participation of nurses from different specializations. Although the research did not consolidate all possible cases, it achieved fair coverage. Independent variables in the study included new recruitments, highest attained qualification for nurses, age, and level of incentives. Independent variables included the rate of employee turnover, new applications, and rate of employee retention. The choice of independent and dependent variables favored the research questions. Arguably, the research design allowed the researcher to respond to the initial research questions. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS (Version 14.0). This analysis was conducted using an independent t-test to differentiate between surgical and critical unit nurses.

The quantitative research did not establish significant differences between critical unit nurses and surgical nurses in terms of job satisfaction. Additionally, the study established that both units experienced an equivalent rate of employee turnover. Ideally, job satisfaction among health workers is independent of the salary scale and professional level of individual employees. Being a quantitative study the research intended to measure the response of independent variables from subsequent changes in independent variables. Alternatively, if the study were qualitative, the researcher would be concerned with the change of human behavior from a change in each of the identified variables (Davis, Ward, Woodall, Shultz, & Davis, 2007). The study indicated that job satisfaction is dependent on work enjoyment among nurses. Ideally, nurses have different levels of satisfaction at each stage of their profession. In addition, the level of job satisfaction depends on the age of the nurse. Thus, the research variables covered the research questions adequately. The number of responses from both categories of nurses was almost similar. This was a major strength in the study since it indicated a balance in data collection and response to the research questions.

The main advantage of quantitative research as applied in the article is that it provides empirical measures of the research issue. In addition, the quantitative study quantifies the severity of the research questions and the ability of hypothesized solutions in dealing with the problem. Unlike qualitative studies, quantitative research can be used to develop mathematical models required in the predictions. However, quantitative studies do not respond to fundamental social problems that are dependent on people’s behaviors. For instance, quantitative studies cannot be used to establish reasons for satisfaction among nurses. If the researcher used qualitative research, the study would have achieved different results. Moreover, the researchers would be required to apply alternative research questions, hypotheses, and research variables. According to the study, the health sector requires immediate intervention to restore the required levels of proficiency and performance. Moreover, nurses require remedial training on ethics and professionalism to improve their job enjoyment.