Exploring Job Satisfaction, Role Issues, and Supervisor Support of Associate Degree Nursing Program Directors

Abstract

This article reports findings from a National League for Nursing-funded research study that examined factors in the psychosocial work environment of academic program directors. Vacant nursing academic leadership positions continue to rise and remain unfilled for extensive time periods. No recent study has looked at this issue from a national perspective. An exploratory, descriptive, correlational design with a convenience sample of academic administrators was obtained from NLNAC-accredited programs. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II was the primary instrument used in the study. Academic administrators (N = 242; response rate: 41.2 percent) validated concerns of increasing position turnover; 59 percent indicated that they were in their current positions for less than five years. Statistically significant correlations were found between job satisfaction, work/family life, role concerns, social support, and recognition. Proactive interventions are needed to ensure manageable workloads for those in these essential positions.