Job satisfaction in rural public health nurses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether nurse managers and staff nurses in rural public health offices were satisfied with their jobs, whether managers were more satisfied than staff nurses, and whether their achieved educational level impacted their job satisfaction.

A nonexperimental comparative study was conducted of currently employed public health nurses (PHNs) to determine job satisfaction levels by using Stember's Web-based 80-question job satisfaction survey.

The sample consisted of 88 PHNs employed as either managers or staff nurses in county public health office settings during April 2006.

In general, both nurse managers and staff nurses reported high job satisfaction. No significant differences existed between the composite job satisfaction scores of the managers and staff nurses. Significant differences existed between managers' and staff nurses' job satisfaction in the categories of "influence" and "interpersonal relationships" with managers less satisfied than staff nurses.

Both staff nurses and managers in public health were satisfied with their jobs. Managers attributed any sense of decreased job satisfaction in the areas of influence and interpersonal relationships. Further study is needed to determine what contributes to satisfaction of PHNs in order to promote positive work environments conducive to retention and recruitment.