Job satisfaction among intensive care nurses as related to professional growth needs and performance appraisal systems

Nursing service administrators strive to provide quality patient care through retention of competent, motivated nurses. Nurse job satisfaction is essential to retention and critical in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Although there are many variables contributing to nurse job satisfaction, this study examined ICU staff nurse job satisfaction in relationship to performance appraisal systems, frequency of feedback and certain demographic characteristics. ICU staff nurses from three private hospitals responded to the study by completing a Personal Satisfaction Inventory instrument, a question on frequency of feedback and demographic questionnaire. An expert panel, instructed in motivational theory, examined the three hospitals' job descriptions/performance evaluation instruments for congruence and motivational design. Consensus of the panel was numerically translated on a Likert scale to allow statistical analysis with job satisfaction scores. Frequency of feed back and marital status achieved significant correlations with job satisfaction. No significant relationship was found with congruence/design of performance appraisal systems.