Nurses' occupational satisfaction during Covid-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 has brought healthcare workers in general and nurses in particular into the limelight as never before. It is important to study the intensity of the impact of this pandemic on the profession. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the occupational satisfaction during the pandemic of Covid-19 among the nurses in Israel, to shed light on conditions of work and to identify factors associated with low occupational satisfaction. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 130 Israeli nurses. Minnesota Satisfaction and Measure of Job Satisfaction questionnaire with 28 items was used to assess occupational satisfaction. RESULTS: In the multivariable model, nurses working in the community had higher occupational satisfaction than those working in hospitals (β = 0.24, p = .032); nurses who took care of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 had significantly lower occupational satisfaction than others (β = −0.48, p = .009). Most of the sample reported lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Nurses who experienced lack of PPE reported lower occupational satisfaction than those who did not (3.4 vs. 3.8, p = .039). Occupational satisfaction was mainly based on the component, built by the intrinsic characteristics of the occupation related to the personal accomplishment. Most of nurses had to increase their workload as a result of staff shortages, but the elevation of the workload was not associated with lower occupational satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Even under the circumstances of the pandemic, the most important nurses` occupational values are worthwhile accomplishments, importance of professional challenge, diversity and interest in the job, personal growth and development and independence in their practice.