ABSTRACT 

NURSE'S WORK ABILITY, JOB SATISFACTION AND SHIFT WORKED: DIFFERENCES, RELATIONSHIPS AND PREDICTORS

By : Nisrein Jaber Al-Khatib

Background: The present study aims to explore the level of Work Ability, level of Job Satisfaction, predictors of Work Ability and predictors of Job Satisfaction. As well, it aims to consider the association and differences between Work Ability and Job Satisfaction of shift workers and non-shift workers Jordanian hospital nurses.

Method: The present study adopted a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational and comparative design. It was conducted at two teaching hospitals in Jordan: Jordan university hospital (JUH) and King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH). Self- administered questionnaires were prepared and then distributed to investigate the following issues: work ability measured by work ability Index (WAI) (Tuomi, Ilmarinen, Jahkola, Katajarinne and Tulkki, 1997), job satisfaction level measured by using Mueller / McCloskey Satisfaction Scale (MMSS) (Muller and McCloskey, 1990) and the demographics form. Data were analyzed by using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) (IBM Statistics for Macintosh, Version 22.0.). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data of the present study. 

Results: The results of the present study revealed that the work ability level for surveyed nurses was "moderate", while job satisfaction level was "moderate dissatisfied".  Besides, the results revealed a positive and significant relationship between the work ability and job satisfaction (r =.347, p<.000). The results also revealed that the relationship was small positive and significant for Shift Workers (r =. 299, p<.000), whereas the relationship was high positive and significant for Non-Shift Workers (r =.507, p<.000).

Conclusions: The results highlighted potential negative outcomes stemming from low work ability. The present study recommends that researchers, hospital administrators and policy makers shall pay more attention to improve the job satisfaction of shift workers. This will reflect positively on improving the work ability level and job satisfaction for shift workers, which will in turn help to increase the patients’ satisfaction and quality of nursing care.

Keywords: Work Ability, Job Satisfaction, Work Satisfaction, Shift Work, Fixed and Rotational Shift Work, Work Ability Index and work Ability Score.

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