Nursing work environment and nurse caring: relationship among motivational factors

AIM: This paper is a report of a study of the relationships among compassion satisfaction, nurse job satisfaction, stress, burnout and compassion fatigue to nurse caring. BACKGROUND: Nurse caring is the most influential dimension of patient advocation and is predictive of patient satisfaction. Qualitative studies have indicated that nurse caring is a key motivational factor impacting recruitment and retention. METHODS: A correlational study of nurses (N = 126) was conducted in 2008 at a single, academic medical center. The six variables of interest were operationalized using four valid and reliable research instruments: (1) the Mueller McCloskey Satisfaction Scale, (2) the Professional Quality of Life Scale, (3) the Stress in General Scale and (4) the Caring Behaviors Inventory. RESULTS: Pearson Product-moment correlations showed statistically significant relationships between nurse caring and compassion satisfaction (r = 0.51, P < 0.001), nurse job satisfaction subscales (r = 0.16-0.28, P < 0.05), stress (r = -0.21, P < 0.05), and burnout (r = -0.22, P < 0.01). A statistically significant relationship was found between the nurse caring subscale of knowledge and skill and compassion fatigue (r = -0.22, P < 0.01). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated that compassion satisfaction (R(2) = 0.287, beta = 0.536, P = 0.000) and nurse satisfaction with social interaction opportunities related to work (beta = 0.223, P = 0.032) explained variability in nurse caring. CONCLUSION: Fostering compassion satisfaction and social interaction opportunities among nurses may improve nurse caring, potentially sustaining long-term improvements in patient.