Relationship between job satisfaction and professional identity among psychiatric nurses

Abstract

Background Job satisfaction depicts how an individual is satisfied with the job. The more satisfied nurses are within their job, the more fulfilled they are supposed to be. Professional identity development is one of the main concerns of nursing education and practice. Nurses are considered to be the vertebral column of any healthcare organization. The WHO believes that mental health nurses, as part of a multidisciplinary team, are especially relevant in the management of mental illness. Aim The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between professional identity and job satisfaction among psychiatric nurses. Methods This was a descriptive correlation research design. The research questions for this study were as follows: (a) How do psychiatric nurses perceive their professional identity? (b) What is the level of professional job satisfaction of psychiatric nurses? (c)What are the relationships between perceptions of professional identity and job satisfaction among psychiatric nurses? This study was conducted at Abbassya Mental Health Hospital in Egypt. A convenient sample of 50 nurses was used for assessment. Tool 1: The background data sheet included age, sex, educational level, position, and years of experience of nurses. Tool 2, Nurses’ professional identity tool: This tool was designed and validated by Kabeel to determine the level of nurses’ professional identity. Tool 3: Mueller and McCloskey Satisfaction Scale as developed and advanced by Ellenbecker and colleagues. Results A positive and significant correlation was determined between nurses’ job satisfaction and professional identities. Conclusion Professional identity is a factor affecting job satisfaction. Recommendations The nurse’s professional identity should be the subject of workshops, in-service programs, and other nursing education activities in various work settings, and in nursing schools and faculties’ curricula. Replication of this study is recommended on other specialty nurses in a large sample size.