The Effects of Job Dissatisfaction among Nurses in Gosford Hospital - Case Study Example

TITTLE: JOB DISSATISFACTION AMONG NURSES Institution Name Date of submission RESEARCH TOPIC: THE EFFECTS OF JOB DISSATISFACTION AMONG NURSES IN GOSFORD HOSPITAL Introduction Job dissatisfaction has been the main issue in health institutions around the world. Hospital administrators as well as medical superintendents have taken this as a challenge when delivering their roles as far as quality of service is concerned. According to Pearson (2001), employees, in this case nurses, expects their jobs to accumulate features such as pay, promotions and autonomy. However, this perhaps may not be the case in Gosford hospital (Australia). The following report examines how nurses in Gosford Hospital are not satisfied with their work profession. 1. Research questions The study will answer the following questions; 1. What is the level of job dissatisfaction among nurses in Gosford hospital? 2. What are the causes of job dissatisfaction among nurses in Gosford hospital? 3. What are the effects of job dissatisfaction among nurses in Gosford hospital? 4. What are the strategies to be put in place to enhance job satisfaction among nurses in Gosford hospital? 2. Methodology The research design method will be a descriptive cross-sectional study (Cross-sectional survey) since the study will use one hospital (Gosford) as a representative subset of events occurring at one point in time. Also, it will not manipulate variables. Study Area and Target Audience The research will be conducted at Gosford hospital-Australia. It is a public hospital with more than 200 nurses. The study population will include all registered nurses at Gosford hospital who will be available at the time of study. Data collection procedure Instruments Self-administered questionnaires will be used since the study subjects (target audience and researcher) will be able to develop, read, understand and respond by filling the questionnaires. The questionnaires will both open-ended and closed-ended. Open-ended questionnaires will ensure that the researcher gets in-depth information about the problem. It will also allow the researcher gather variety of responses. Closed-ended questionnaires will ensure relevant data is obtained. However, they limit the responses of the participant. The research therefore will use likert-type scale in since it will be easier to obtain results from the analysis (Jackson, 2009: 89). Data collection process Nurses in the hospital are given consent about the research process by the medical superintendent. This will be followed by the researcher administering questionnaires to the participants. Nurses who will be issued with the questionnaires are expected to fill and submit back to the researcher upon given time for completion. Data management Data collected will be processed through editing, coding, classification and tabulation for easy analysis. It will be then entered into computers as back up to the hard copies that will be produced. Data analysis After coding, the following tools will be used to analyze the data obtained from the research; Microsoft Excel SPSS software The analysis will be done on the basis computation of certain measures derived from the patterns displayed by the designed data groups. Designed data groups help the report in explaining how examined variables communicate the significant findings (Weiss, 2002). Study variables The dependent variable will be the level of job dissatisfaction among nurses while the independent variables are age, sex, years of practice and causes of job dissatisfaction. All these variables will predict a substantive conclusion (Marshal, 2007). Sampling Technique and Sample Size The following formulas will be used in determining the sample size; Formula 1: Fisher’s method, where; n = Z2 pq d2 n = desired sample size z = the standard normal deviate at the required confidence p = the proportion in the target population estimated to have particular characteristics being measured. q = 1-p d = the level of statistical significance set. (Arafa, 2003). Formula 2: The second formula is by Mtengezo (2006) nf=desired sample size when the population size is less than 10,000 n=desired sample size when the population size is more than 10,000 N=estimate of the population size Cluster sampling technique will be used in selecting items for the sample. This will involve dividing the number of nurses in Gosford hospital into sub-divisions according to the department they work. Later the clusters, for example surgical ward, will be randomly selected using simple random sampling. The two sampling methods will ensure that participants in the target audience are given equal chance of the inclusion in the sample. Pretesting Some questionnaires will be presented to nurses of one of the sub-district hospital around the region of study. The hospital is likely to have similar demographic characteristics with the study area. The questionnaires from the sub-district nurses will be collected and perhaps correction done with the evaluated data in order to enhance validity and reliability of the data that will be collected in the study area (Gosford Hospital). This process is important since it gives the researcher a chance to explore areas of correction in the design (Sheeber et al, 1996). How to encourage people to participate The researcher should ensure that he/she has fulfilled the requirements mandate by the school department such that as he/she presents a request to the audience, the audience would definitely know that the activity is formal. The essential part of this is to assure the participants especially the audience that full ethical figure will be considered. This will encourage them (target group to explicitly give what is required (Krysik and Finn, 2013). Justification Job dissatisfaction among nurses in public hospitals is a recent concern that has compromised the delivery of service offered by health institutions. Patients are complaining about the service they receive from nurses and thus they have preferred private institutions. The research design used will scrutinize intensely the specific aspects needed to make a viable conclusion of the problem. The design will allow open response to the interviewer. Methods of collecting data used by the design are simple and cheap. 3. Ethical Consideration The research proposal will be submitted to the department for approval, after which the chairperson of the department will write an approval letter to request Gosford medical superintendent about the research that will be carried out in the hospital. The department will expect an approval from the hospital before commencing the study. The person in charge (medical superintendent) will explain the purpose of the study to the respondents and obtain consent from before using then (nurses) as study subjects. Ethical principle (beneficence) was taken into consideration in the fact that confidentiality and privacy of the respondents would be well taken care of during data collection process. If at all the researcher would want to reveal participant’s identities as a result of moral obligation, pseudonym is expected to be used. However, the strategy perhaps may not be sufficient since the population of study is rather small. Therefore, circulation of the study within the department would be restricted. Justice as well will be an ethical aspect to be considered. In this case, all the participants are expected to be treated fairly without abuse or exploitation. This research is done by an undergraduate student. Therefore, there is high chance of abuse that may come from nurses in the hospital. In most cases, the abuse normally comes from the researcher but this is a unique study. Generally, ethical considerations perhaps in a qualitative research ensure an understanding that the participants are ought to take ethical responsibility, and this is an ongoing process. It is a mandate at all to maintain issues of human right defense for effective formulation of policies. Otherwise, disregarding ethical considerations would jeopardize the authority of the institution, in this case, Gosford hospital. 4. Research Limitations The study design developed would be effective in collecting required information for analysis. However, participants may not be willing to give information on a particular subject. This would lead to lack of information thus the researcher would make assumptions on that particular subject. For example, a subject in the questionnaire may require information on personal perspective why the nurse is not satisfied with his/her job. The information on this particular issue would depend on how the consent was given. That is if the design will fully undertake the ethical principles, then the participant would relay precise information needed for the research. Time management may not be observed since the design capture a comprehensive part of the research. Different respondents take different time in giving the information. Therefore time may not be defined and usually time management may not be observed at some point. Since this is a concern that has been in extreme in 21st century facing public hospitals, there is lack of prior research on the topic developed for the research. The literature review is not that comprehensive with an extent of explaining the phenomenon back in 19th century. Though some studies about the topic were done back in 19th century, then the effects may not have been the same. Therefore, basing the review on these studies would explain less about the experience of today. Research design may lack experts on data analysis especially when using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) when analyzing the data collected. This is a complex statistical tool that need training and more experience. Therefore, if research was to be conducted at the moment, then the analysis section would only use Microsoft Excel only and that perhaps may not enhance efficiency of the information collected. Reference Jackson, S.L. (2009).  Research Methods and Statistics:  A Critical Thinking Approach 3rd edition.  Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Krysik, L. J. & Finn, J. (2013). Research for effective social work practice, New directions in social work, London: Routledge. Marshall, P. L. (2007). Ethical challenges in study design and informed consent for health research in resource-poor settings. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. Mtengezo J, T. (2006). Factors influencing job satisfaction of all cadre of Nurses in Malawi. International Journal of Nursing Sheeber, L., Sorensen, E., & Howe, S. (1996). Data Analytic Techniques for Treatment Outcome Studies With Pretest/posttest Measurements: An Extensive Primer. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 30(3), 185-199. Weiss, H. M. (2002). Deconstructing job satisfaction: separating evaluations, beliefs and affective experiences, Human Resource Management Review, 12, 173-194 Read More