Job design, workplace interaction and job satisfaction among nursing staff at the Rankin Park Unit John Hunter Hospital

This research will investigate job design, workplace interaction and job satisfaction among the various classification of nurses employed at the Rankin Park Unit, John Hunter Hospital. This topic was chosen as the researcher believes and supported by Yoder & Heneman (1975) that the level of staff job satisfaction is reflected in the quality of care that is given to clients, and that improved career pathways and job design directly impact on staff morale and ultimately staff satisfaction. The research into job design, workplace interaction and job satisfaction among nursing staff within the Rankin Park Unit was carried out over a one year period. The instruments of survey, Job Characteristics Inventory (J.C.I.) andL Satisfaction Survey (J.S.S.), were administered to a sample of 181 nurses from the institution. This quota was representative of the various classifications of nurses within the Rankin Park Unit, including; Professional (Registered Nurses, R.N.), Technical (Enrolled Nurses, E.N.), and Service (Assistant In Nursing, A.I.N.) members. Definitions of these titles are located in Appendix A (Definitions of terms and Abbreviations). The responses were analysed and presented in thesis form, to both Central Queensland University and the Hunter Area Health Service. The responses to the instruments of survey and analysis of results give significant insight into areas of possible improvement in job design and job delineation for nurses, thereby flowing on to improved job satisfaction and improved productivity. The information stemming from this research will assist nursing staff at all levels, in association with Institutional Management to map career paths for nurses employed within the Hunter Area Health Service.