The Role of Professional Values in Shaping Job Satisfaction among Nurses in a Developing Country: An Empirical Analysis

Role of Professional Values in Shaping Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Background & Aim: Nursing professional values and job satisfaction are two closely interrelated concepts that have garnered significant attention in healthcare research. This study explores the relationship between factors of caring, activism, professional, trust, justice, and job satisfaction among nurses in a developing country, Vietnam.

Methods & Materials: A cross-sectional survey from North, Middle and South areas in Vietnam is conducted with a total of 669 nurses participated. The questionnaire of NPVS-R with 25 items was used to measures nurses' professional values. Job satisfaction for nurses is measured by a 7-item questionnaire. And the data is analyzed by SPSS software.

Results: Only three nursing professional value factors (activism, trust, justice) significantly influence the nurses’ job satisfaction. Additionally, while nurse staff and nurse managers exhibit slightly different assessments of professional values due to their distinct roles and perspectives, no significant differences were found in their overall levels of job satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of fostering a work environment that promotes and upholds the professional values of activism, trust, and justice to enhance nurse job satisfaction.

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the significance of nurses' activism in advocating for patients' rights and care leads to a greater sense of purpose, empowerment, and job satisfaction. And nurturing an environment of trust (in oneself, colleagues, organization, and profession) is essential for effective collaboration, communication, and job satisfaction. The principle of justice, encompassing fair resource allocation, transparent decision-making processes, and equitable treatment, also emerges as a critical factor influencing nurses' job satisfaction.