Transplant Nurses' Work Environment: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Center Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Management
• Transplant Care

Background:

• Nurses are the largest healthcare profession, crucial for patient care quality and safety.
• A global nursing shortage exists across various settings and countries.
• This study assesses German transplant nurses' work environments and compares them to US counterparts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the work environments of German transplant nurses.
• To compare job design and satisfaction levels between German and US transplant nurses.
• To identify factors influencing job satisfaction among German transplant nurses.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 181 German transplant nurses from 16 centers.
• Utilized a translated Job Design (JD) and Job Satisfaction (JS) survey with validated internal consistency.
• Compared findings with a US-based sample of 331 transplant nurses.

Main Results:

• German nurses reported higher 'skill varieties' but lower 'autonomy' in job design compared to US nurses.
• Job satisfaction was highest for 'opportunities for autonomy and growth' but lowest for 'pay and benefits'.
• Higher professional degrees, longer transplant experience, and permanent contracts positively impacted job satisfaction; temporary contracts correlated with stress.

Conclusions:

• German transplant nurses perceive their work environments positively regarding job design and satisfaction.
• Enhancing nurse work environments and specialization is recommended to improve care quality and patient outcomes.
• Addressing specific areas like autonomy and compensation is vital for sustained job satisfaction in transplant nursing.