Determinants of nurse manager job satisfaction: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Front-line nurse managers provide direct oversight of healthcare delivery to ensure organizational expectations are implemented to achieve optimal patient and staff outcomes. Ensuring the job satisfaction of front-line nurse managers is key to retaining these individuals in their roles. Understanding factors influencing job satisfaction of nurse managers can support the development and implementation of strategies to enhance job satisfaction and sustain retention.

Objectives: We aimed to systematically review the empirical literature measuring determinants of job satisfaction among nurse managers.

Design: We conducted a systematic review using 11 electronic databases.

Data sources: Electronic databases included ABI Inform, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC, Health Source Nursing, Medline, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, PsychINFO, and LILACS.

Review methods: We included research articles that examined the determinants of job satisfaction for front-line nurse managers. Two research team members independently reviewed and determined inclusion of each study. Each study was appraised independently for quality by two team members. Data extraction was completed for included studies. Content analysis was used to categorize factors associated with job satisfaction of nurse managers.

Results: A total of 5608 articles were screened for inclusion or exclusion. Thirty-eight studies were included. One hundred and one factors influencing nurse manager job satisfaction were reported in the included studies. Factors were grouped into three main categories: job characteristics, organizational characteristics, and personal characteristics. Most factors were examined in single studies or their relationship with job satisfaction was equivocal. However, across these categories, findings included significant positive relationships between autonomy, power, social support among team members and job satisfaction of front-line nurse managers. A significant negative relationship between job stress and nurse manager job satisfaction was indicated in the findings.

Conclusions: Promoting autonomy, power to make decisions for change, social support, team cohesion, and strategies to reduce job stress may improve job satisfaction of front-line nurse managers. Innovative solutions such as co-management and targeted administrative and electronic resources warrant further investigation. Promoting prosocial group behaviours, team building, coaching and the implementation of wellness programs may improve social support, team cohesion, and wellbeing. Examining factors of nurse managers job satisfaction beyond the acute care setting could provide further insights into the role that the practice environment plays in nurse manager job satisfaction.

Tweetable abstract: Promoting autonomy, power to effect decisions for change, social support, team cohesion, and strategies to reduce job stress are important drivers of job satisfaction of front-line managers.

Keywords: Front-line nurse manager; Job satisfaction; Nurse manager; Systematic review.