The scope of practice and its relationship with job satisfaction: A comparative study among bachelor's and master's nurses in the Intensive care unit of Northern West Bank Hospitals Palestine رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Background: Job satisfaction among nurses is crucial because it affects the quality of healthcare and the safety of patients. Increased work satisfaction among nurses correlates with greater employment retention rates, leading to decreased turnover rates and guaranteeing consistent care provision. This study aimed to assess and compare the nursing practice level and job satisfaction among nurses working in Intensive Care Units at governmental and private hospitals in the North West Bank in Palestine. Method: The study design was quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive research. This research study was conducted at the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) departments in 18 governmental and private hospitals in 6 cities in Northern West Bank, Palestine. A convenience sampling technique was used in this study, and the sample size was calculated using an online sample size calculator. The data instrument of this study included three key parts: socio-demographic data, the Arabic Actual Scope of Nursing Practice (A-ASCOP) questionnaire, and the Job Satisfaction Scale. A statistical analysis was performed on the data using the SPSS software program version 26 of IBM. Results: The total participants were 162 nurses; the majority were aged between 22-30 years, with a mean of 110 (67.9%), and 92 (56.8%) of the nurses were married. The findings showed that 119 (73.5%) of nurses held a bachelor's degree. The mean job satisfaction score was 47.51 (±14.71), indicating moderate satisfaction, with scores ranging from 16- 76, showing considerable variability among participants. There is a high level of engagement in nursing practices as the mean nursing practice score was 110.97 (±29.90), with a range from 26-156. The difference in nursing practice across work shifts was statistically significant (P = 0.02). There was a statistically significant difference among the study participants in practice level with work shift. The significance was between those working one shift versus three shifts (P =0.005). Conclusion: The findings highlighted a complicated relationship between work satisfaction and nursing practices among ICU nurses in public and private institutions. Although overall job satisfaction was moderate, it was undermined by considerable discontent in essential aspects such as advancement possibilities and working environment. This study suggested implementing formal systems to acknowledge and reward outstanding performance, ensuring that nurses feel appreciated and driven in their positions.