Job performance of clinical nurse managers and its relationship with their job satisfaction and job stress : A cross sectional study

Satisfaction and stress are important work characteristics that affect job performance in nursing and their intention to stay as a nurse. The aim of this study was to assess the job performance level of clinical nurse managers called as sisters, and its relationship with their job satisfaction and job stress in Malaysian public hospital settings. A cross sectional study was done among sisters (N=283) worked at government hospitals across five geographical zones of Malaysia including: North, Center, East, South and Sabah and Sarawak using multistage random sampling. They completed three questionnaires of Six Dimensions Scale of Nursing Performance, Job Satisfaction Survey and Nursing Stress Index. Statistical analysis implemented was Pearson's correlation coefficients, independent t-test and linear regression analysis. Results of the study revealed a high range of job performance, a moderate level of satisfaction and stress among clinical nurse managers. Nurses with degree education had a lower job performance compare to diploma education (P = 0.045).. A significant but weak relationship was seen between job performance and job satisfaction (r = 0.165). Sisters' job performance had positive significant correlation with Satisfaction with promotion (r=0.137), co-workers (r=0.225), and nature of work (r=0.276) in Malaysia. On the other hand, sisters' job performance had negative correlation with job stress resulted from dealing with patients and relatives (r = -0.121), Home and work conflict (-0.136), and Confidence and competence, (-0.154). Linear regression analysis showed that; education, satisfaction from nature of work promotion and co-workers were strong predictors of job performance among clinical nurse managers in Malaysia. Despite of having a high performance among clinical nurse managers, there was a moderate satisfaction and stress among clinical nurse managers in Malaysia. Correlations between job performance, satisfaction and stress was significant Education and three aspects of job satisfaction including promotion, nature of work and co-workers were found to be the predictors of job performance. It will be needed to set strategies to increase satisfaction and control job stress of nurses as the largest group of human resources in the health care system to maintain and improve this level of job performance and more importantly to deal with nursing shortage by creating an attractive working environment with satisfying factors and without stress.