Job satisfaction of professional nurses in public hospitals in Limpopo Province, South Africa: experiences of professional nurses in selected hospitals

Abstract

Job satisfaction is essential in hospitals for professional nurses to provide quality patient care. Job satisfaction of professional nurses contributes to their staying longer in public hospitals. The study explored job satisfaction of professional nurses in public hospitals in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The Appreciative Inquiry technique was used to collect qualitative data for an exploratory, descriptive study design. To obtain a variety of viewpoints, six focus groups were held, each with six professional nurses from various interviewed from two public hospitals. Interviews from focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data was analysed thematically. Ethical clearance to conduct the research was obtained from the University of Pretoria. Credibility, transferability, reliability, comfortability, and authenticity of the findings were all accomplished and this ensured trustworthiness. The following three themes emerged: passion for the job, professional development, and sense of satisfaction as factors that influenced professional nurses to continue working in public hospitals. The study revealed that professional nurses are dissatisfied because of inadequate resources which prevents them from rendering high quality and comprehensive patient care. Therefore, the study recommends that professional nurses should recognize their abilities, possibilities, and goals, and that authorities should listen to them if there are to be improvements in public hospitals.