Canadian journal of nursing administration
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This investigation used a multivariate approach to examine similarities and differences between the job satisfaction, propensity to leave, and burnout of registered nurses (RNs) (n = 623) and registered nursing assistants (RNAs) (n = 231). At best, both groups were only moderately satisfied with their jobs, and there were no significant differences between the groups on the outcome measures of satisfaction, burnout or propensity to leave. ⋯ When comparative analyses were conducted by unit types, RNs in psychiatric settings were least satisfied with their jobs, more likely to leave their positions, and reported more burnout than did RNs in other settings. Implications of the study for interventions and future research are discussed.
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As Federal and Provincial governments wrestle with the economic crisis, Ministries of Health in every province are frantically and systematically introducing actions and major reforms to curb escalating health care expenditures. The reforms that are being introduced with an alarming speed are less of a threat to nurses than they are to doctors. The impending battles over professional turf will ultimately shape the nature and design of the new systems. This crisis constitutes an opportunity for nurses to become engaged in the reform process and thus shape the health care delivery system to their advantage.
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In the context of calls to change the educational qualifications for entry into the nursing profession, this study attempts to determine whether type of nursing education is associated with nurses' commitment to their employer hospitals. The analysis indicates that even when controlling for personal attributes, personal investments and work attitudes, type of nursing education is related to the level of organizational commitment expressed by nurses. ⋯ Contrary to prevailing beliefs, the findings also reveal basic similarities between degree and diploma nurses on other measures of professional and work-related attitudes. From an organizational perspective, these similarities call into question the benefit of redefining educational entry standards.
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This article explores some nursing research done by the author illustrating nurses' experiences with decision-making in ethical issues. The article then looks at how we can foster ethical decision-making in nursing practice. Nurses in the author's study described their experience of decision-making in relation to the ethical issue of prolongation of life. ⋯ Senseless decision-making was a major finding in the study and included inadequate involvement of the patient, inadequate involvement of the family, inadequate involvement of the nurse, and fragmentary team decision-making. Nurses' descriptions of a senseless decision-making process are examined by the author in terms of conflict and powerlessness. The author concludes by reviewing recent nursing literature suggesting how we can move from senseless to ethical decision-making in nursing practice.