The impact of professional role and demographic characteristics on job satisfaction and retention among healthcare professionals in a military hospital

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is significantly associated with retention. Although several factors are associated with job satisfaction and retention (pay, leadership, mentorship), the association of demographic characteristics has been understudied in the literature. PURPOSE: To explore whether professional role and demographic characteristics are associated with job satisfaction and intent to stay among nurses and physicians in a military medical center. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, exploratory, cross‐sectional study, and collected data via surveys. We used multiple regression to evaluate study variables. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty‐nine participants completed the survey. Professional role and demographic characteristics were not associated with job satisfaction. Professional role, race, and education were associated with intent to stay for military respondents. Physicians (β = 0.53, p = .0259) and Caucasians (β = −0.55, p = .0172) reported lower intent to stay; respondents with graduate degrees reported higher intent to stay (β = 2.47, p = .0045). Professional role and demographic characteristics were not associated with intent to stay for civilians. CONCLUSION: Job satisfaction and retention of nurses and physicians are critical to the quality of care. Civilian and military healthcare leaders should focus on interventions that enhance job satisfaction and retention as a strategy to improve patient and staff outcomes alike.