LAUSR

AIM To explore job satisfaction among registered nurses working in acute care hospitals, and to examine which background factors influence registered nurses' total job satisfaction. BACKGROUND Job satisfaction among registered nurses is important when considering the well-being and retention of registered nurses. Research has shown that registered nurses in different countries experience various levels of job satisfaction. METHOD In 2015, a total of 406 Finnish and Norwegian registered nurses answered a survey based on the Kuopio University Hospital Job Satisfaction Scale. The collected data were analysed with nonparametric tests and multiple linear analyses. RESULTS The registered nurses rated motivating factors of work and work welfare highest, while the lowest degrees of job satisfaction were related to requiring factors of work and participation in decision-making. CONCLUSIONS Registered nurses appreciate their work in both countries, however attention should be paid to work demands and the extent to which registered nurses are involved in decision-making to enhance their job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nurse leaders should be aware of registered nurses' diverse backgrounds and use this knowledge to recognize registered nurses in need of support. The paths through which registered nurses participate in decision-making should be streamlined and workloads should be regularly assessed so that work is distributed evenly.