Job satisfaction and supervisory behavior among hospital staff nurses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction among staff nurses and supervisory behavior. The Index of Work Satisfaction was utilized to measure general levels of job satisfaction. Supervisory behavior was investigated using a questionnaire based on Fleishman's concepts of "considerate" and "structured" supervisory behavior. Full-time staff nurses at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Cottonwood Hospital were asked to voluntarily participate. Findings indicated that the combined effects of considerate and structured supervisory behavior accounted for 38% of the variance in job satisfaction. Number of years of experience was the only demographic variable which was significant in predicting overall job satisfaction. Investigating the influence of supervisory behavior and demographic variables on the individual components of job satisfaction, it was found that supervisory behavior is the most significant and the demographic variables are significant in predicting satisfaction with the components of administration, autonomy and task requirements.