Job satisfaction and stress of nurses and their association with turnover intention rate in an acute Hong Kong public hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital

Abstract

Aim. To identify the factors of job satisfaction and stress of nurses and their association with turnover intention rate in an acute hospital in Hong Kong.

Background. Heavy workload, shortage of manpower and high turnover rate of nurse are the major problems in Hong Kong particularly in public hospitals even after measures have been taken to tackle them in recent years. Many studies in western countries showed that workload, turnover rate, stress, satisfaction level and turnover intention of nurse were associated. However there are few studies in Asian countries. This information is needed to provide policymakers evidence to formulate particular policy to deal with these problems.

Design. This is a cross sectional study. Survey data were collected from nurses in the medical ward, operation theatre and intensive care unit of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Hong Kong.

Methods. A snowball convenience sampling method was used to collect samples from the selected departments. My colleagues in the select departments referred participants to me. Packet of questionnaire was distributed to the participants and the questionnaire was self - administered .The survey questionnaires, including the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS), Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS) and Anticipated Turnover Scale (ATS), were used to collect data from the sampled subjects.

Results. Mean scores of ENSS, JSS and ATS of the respondents were 140.77 out of 228, 114.12 out of 216 and 49.48 out of 84 respectively. These indicated that respondents had high stress and high intention to leave level but mild satisfaction level. It also revealed that there was inverse relationship between stress and satisfaction level (r = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.02) and between satisfaction level and intention to leave level (-0.41, 95% CI: -0.62 to -0.19).

Conclusion. There is some evidence of high stress level and intention to leave in nurses working in public hospital while their satisfaction level is in a moderate level. Stress level, satisfaction level and intention to leave level in nurses are associated. The management should adopt an evidence – based approach in improving the work environment for nurses. Even though the generalization of this study is weak, it is useful for the hospital to deal with the human resource problems of nurses.