| Description |
A survey of 43 Air Force certified nurse-midwives (AFCNMs) was done from September to November 1981. The purpose was to supply to the Air Force administration, empirical information about the job satisfaction of AFCNMs. The Index of Work Satisfaction (IWS) was used to measure the current level of job satisfaction and relative importance and satisfaction with seven work satisfaction components. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect biographic, demographic and professional information abut AFCNMs. The respondents had moderately low satisfaction with pay and administration; moderate satisfaction with nurse/physician relationship and task requirements; moderately high satisfaction with interaction and autonomy; and very high satisfaction with the professional status component. The overall job satisfaction of AFCNMs was moderate. To identify characteristics which could influence their job satisfaction, AFCNMs were assigned to sub-groups for statistical analysis of differences between group scores. No significant differences were found in mean IWS or mean component scores between the following subgroups: married and unmarried, junior and senor rank, those with and without assignment approval, and those with and without military career intent. Significantly higher satisfaction with the interaction component was found in the sub-group working and on-call less than 90 hours per week and in the subgroup with master's degrees. Significantly higher mean IWS scores and pay and interaction mean component scores were found in the subgroup of AFCNMs prepared at the master's level in nurse-midwifery as compared with those prepared at the certificate level. Administration was the second most important work satisfaction component for AFCMNs with master's level nurse-midwifery preparation; administration was the least important component for the certificate prepared. Suggestions for improving the job satisfaction of AFCNMs and recommendation for further research were discussed. This information could be of value to the Air Force personnel and Nursing; service administration, certified nurse-midwives, nurse-practitioners, nurse-anesthetists, physicians, and nurse-midwifery program directors. |
