Influence of personal characteristics on self-concept and job satisfaction of registered nurses working in cross-cultural settings in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Abstract A descriptive correlational design was conducted to assess the influence of personal characteristics on the self-concept and job satisfaction of registered nurses working in cross-cultural settings in selected government hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. Using the convenience sampling method, the variables measured were age, sex, educational status, years of experience at present hospital, experience in current work unit, marital status, nationality, job title, work unit, monthly income and geographical area. The research sample comprised 1061 registered nurses working in nine government hospitals. The nurses’ self-concept and job satisfaction were assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. This study identified that there is a relationship between registered nurses’ self-concept and job satisfaction, and the correlation coefficients were statistically very highly significant (P<0.001). More specifically, correlations with job satisfaction were found among the self-concept subcomponents of nurses’ general self-concept (r=0.273, P<0.001), care (r=0.141, P<0.001), staff relations (r=0.320, P<0.001), communication (r=0.174, P<0.001) and knowledge (r=0.218, P<0.001), and a lower correlation was found with leadership (r=0.063, P<0.05). In the relationship between registered nurses’ self-concept and personal characteristics, the care component was more significantly associated with participants aged ≥40 years (P<0.001) and with the designation of charge nurse (P<0.01). Length of experience was statistically significantly correlated with the care, staff relations and communication components of self-concept (P<0.01). The educational status of participants was statistically significantly associated with communication and knowledge (P<0.05). In the relationship between registered nurses’ personal characteristics and job satisfaction, the diploma holders (P<0.001), particular work units (P<0.01), participants with ≥10 years’ experience (P<0.05) and specific nationalities (P<0.05) had significant associations with job satisfaction. Nurse administrators and policy-makers can utilize these research findings to strengthen nurses’ self-concept and maintain or enhance levels of job satisfaction among registered nurses working in government hospitals, to maintain a high quality of patient care. Keywords: Registered nurses, Personal characteristics, Nurses self-concept, job satisfaction.