ASSESSING NURSES’ SATISFACTION ON THEIR WORK-SCHEDULES: THE CASE OF A HOSPITAL IN JAKARTA

Abstract

Background: Nurses’ low satisfaction in their work may affect their performance in providing health services. Reports have noted that nurses’ work satisfaction in several hospitals in Indonesia have been below the minimum service standard (90%). Many factors can affect the nurses’ satisfaction in their work, including their work schedules. 

Objectives: This study aims to determine the association between nurses’ work satisfaction and their work schedules. 

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which used the survey to collect data from a group of nurses who were attached to a public hospital in Jakarta. The samples (n=127 nurse) were selected through stratified random sampling based on the determined inclusion criteria. The instrument used to evaluate the satisfaction was the Mines Job Satisfaction Scale (MNPJSS) while the instrument used to evaluate the nurses’ scheduling was developed by the authors. Pearson’s correlation was applied in the analysis. 

Results: The mean score of the nurses’ satisfaction was 60.2% while the mean score for the nurses’ scheduling was 76.2%. The results also indicated a positive significant correlation between nurses’ scheduling with nurses’ satisfaction (p-value = 0.001), with a moderate strength of correlation (r = 0.421). The nurses’ satisfaction rate in their work within the hospital involved in this study was lower than the minimum standard rate for hospitals in Indonesia. The nurses’ highest dissatisfaction was with their salary (59.1%) followed by their career development (38.5%). Although the nurses’ scheduling had been implemented, it seems that factors such as nurse to patient ratio and nurses’ mixed level of skills had not been fully considered in the scheduling. As the score of the nurses’ scheduling increased, the satisfaction rate among the nurses also climbed higher. 

Conclusion: The nurses’ satisfaction in their work was affected by the nurses’ scheduling duties, thus hospital managers need to manage the nurses’ scheduling appropriately so as to improve their work satisfaction.