Date of Award

2010-05-01

Degree Name

PhD Nursing

Dissertation Committee

Cynthia D. Connelly, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chair; Jane M. Georges, PhD, RN; Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, FAAN, FCRN

Keywords

employee burnout, job satisfaction, nursing, travel nurses, work environment

Abstract

This study examined various individual and work environment characteristics and their influence as predictors of travel nurse job satisfaction and burnout. In addition it described travel nurses; a population of nurses that has not been previously studied. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used in order to take advantage of the exploratory nature of the qualitative portion in describing the attitudes and motivations of travel nurses in detail; and to further explain the findings from the quantitative portion of the study. The quantitative portion of the study used a descriptive correlational methodology with secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional sample responding to an on-line self-administered survey. A 28% response rate was achieved with the return of 1,231 completed surveys. The results of the analyses are described in two manuscripts. The first is entitled: Burnout, Job Dissatisfaction, and Intent to Leave Among Travel Nurses. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was used to measure burnout. Burnout in travel nurses was significantly related to their age and the number of patients under their care. Magnet hospital designation was the only significant predictor of job satisfaction in travel nurses. The second manuscript entitled, A Qualitative Analysis of the Attitudes and Motivations of Travel Nurses reported the findings of telephone interviews completed with 17 travel nurses. The article described the experiences of travel nurses, why they made the decision to enter travel nursing and their perceptions of the rewards of working as a travel nurse. Travel nurses believed that the variety of experiences at different facilities and in different places improved their nursing skills and self-confidence such that they became a better nurse. A third manuscript was developed from a separate dataset related to job satisfaction of travel nurses. The title of this final manuscript is: Travel Nurse Job Satisfaction: What Nurse and Hospital Characteristics Matter? The results support the concept that Magnet hospital designation contributes significantly to the job satisfaction of travel nurses. In all, this dissertation documents new evidence about travel nurses.

Document Type

Dissertation: Open Access

Department

Nursing

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Nursing Commons

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