Academic middle managers for baccalaureate nursing: work motivation and satisfaction

Area of Science:

• Nursing Management
• Organizational Psychology
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• High turnover among academic middle managers in baccalaureate nursing programs is a concern.
• Understanding factors influencing job satisfaction and motivation is crucial for retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between job characteristics, growth need strength, job satisfaction, and work motivation in academic nursing managers.
• To determine if growth need strength mediates the relationship between job characteristics and job satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Survey of academic middle managers in baccalaureate nursing programs across the US.
• Utilized the Job Diagnostic Survey Short Form (JDSSF).
• Employed zero-order correlations, multiple regression, and interaction analysis.

Main Results:

• Internal work motivation was measurable but not predictable by JDSSF job characteristics.
• "Autonomy" significantly predicted "general job satisfaction."
• "Autonomy" and "feedback from the job itself" predicted "growth need satisfaction."

Conclusions:

• Job characteristics, particularly autonomy, are linked to job satisfaction in academic nursing managers.
• Growth need strength did not significantly mediate job satisfaction in linear or interactive models.
• Further research may explore other factors influencing motivation and satisfaction in this population.