1. International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 –
6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 2, March- April (2013)
176
JOB SATISFACTION AMONG NURSES OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS
IN KERALA
Sathyajith S
Lecturer, Department of Management Studies,
Vedavyasa Institute of Technology, Calicut, Kerala
Dr. R. Haridas
Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Business Administration,
Govt. Arts College for Men, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu
ABSTRACT
In the time of socio-economic stigma and reproachful protest; it is studied to
understand the level of satisfaction among nurses of private hospitals in Kerala. The study
has operationalised through the collection of data by using questionnaire of 81 questions from
200 samples and analysis of data by applying Mean, Standard Deviation and Chi-square test.
Key words: Job satisfaction, Nurses, Private hospitals
INTRODUCTION
Job satisfaction is the function of perceived relationship between what one wants from
one’s job and what he/she gets there from (Locke, E. A., 1969). It is a positive feeling about
one’s job resulting from evaluation of its characteristics (Robbins, S. P. et al., 2012). Job
satisfaction is an essential part of ensuring high-quality care. Dissatisfied not only give poor
quality, less efficient care (Grol, R. et al., 1995). Nurses who were not satisfied at work were
also found to distance themselves from their patients and their nursing chores (Demerouti, E.
et. al., 2000). Nowadays nurses are facing a socio-economic stigma in their job and working
conditions especially in private sector. They are raising voice and that echoes all over the
state and various parts of the country. In this context, job satisfaction among nurses of private
hospitals in Kerala is studied with an objective to understand the level of satisfaction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT (IJM)
ISSN 0976-6502 (Print)
ISSN 0976-6510 (Online)
Volume 4, Issue 2, March- April (2013), pp. 176-179
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2. International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 –
6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 2, March- April (2013)
177
METHODOLOGY
Research on job satisfaction has tried to use Factor Analysis. Different factor
analytical studies combine different factors with job satisfaction. Fung-Kam, L. (1998)
considered salary and benefit, professionalism and autonomy. Patient care, environment,
workload, co-workers, salary and benefits, professionalism, cultural background and career
stage were considered by McNeese-Smith, D. K. (1999). Moyle, W. et al., (2003) used
workplace flexibility, residents, working in a team, dedication to service, training, role
expectations, laborious tasks, staffing levels and overtime for the study. Chu, C. I. et al
(2003) combined co-workers, role expectations, activity, supervisor, routinization and
resources. Work load, co-workers, supervisor, routinization and management were
considered by Seo, Y. Ko, J. & Price, J. L. (2004). Major dependent variables of this study
are job, management, personal adjustment and social relations. The measurement has
operationalised with a questionnaire of 81 questions prepared in the light of Satisfaction-
Dissatisfaction inventory developed by Pestonjee D. M. (1973).
The sample size has been decided as 200 nurses and Simple random sampling has
used to select them from the nurses of private hospitals in Kerala. The major independent
variables of the study are age, sex and experience.
The hypotheses set for the study are:
H01: There is no significant relationship between job satisfaction and age
H02: There is no significant relationship between job satisfaction and sex
H03: There is no significant relationship between job satisfaction and experience
For the analysis of the study, Mean, Standard Deviation, Chi-square test etc are used.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Among 200 respondents, 150 (75%) fall in the age limit of below 25, 44 (22%) in 26
to 35 and 6 (3%) in 36 to 45 age limit.
Table 1
Age distribution of respondents
Age F %
Below 25 150 75
26- 35 44 22
36- 45 6 3
46- 55 0 0
56 and above 0 0
Total 200 100
Among the respondents, 66 (33%) are male and the rest, 134 (67%) are female.

3. International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 –
6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 2, March- April (2013)
178
Table 2
Sex distribution of respondents
While taking experience, 172 (86%) are falling in the limit of below 5 years, 16 (8%) in 6 to
10 limit, 10 (5%) in 11 to 15, 2 (1%) in 16 to 20 years limit.
Table 3
Experience of respondents
Experience F %
Below 5 years 172 86
6- 10 16 8
11- 15 10 5
16- 20 2 1
21 and above 0 0
Total 200 100
Table 4 shows the overall level of job satisfaction of the respondents. 30 (15%) are
highly satisfied on their job, 144 (72%) are moderately satisfied and 26 (13%) shows low
level of satisfaction.
Table 4
Overall level of job satisfaction
Chi square test has used to test hypotheses. Table 5 shows results of testing of hypotheses.
Table 5
Result of test of hypotheses
While analysing, the hypotheses set for the study are rejected. That is, age, sex and
experience are significantly related with job satisfaction.
Sex F %
Male 66 33
Female 134 67
Total 200 100
Level of job satisfaction F %
High 30 15
Moderate 144 72
Low 26 13
Total 200 100
Relationship χ2
Value P Value
Job satisfaction and age 16.54 0.0353
Job satisfaction and sex 12.15 0.0023
Job satisfaction and experience 39.86 0.0001
at 5% level of significance

4. International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 – 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 –
6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 2, March- April (2013)
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CONCLUSION
It is found from the study, the majority of the nurses working in private hospitals are
moderately satisfied in their jobs and the independent variables, age, sex and experience have
significant relationship with job satisfaction. Being job satisfaction of nurses has direct
relation with quality of health care, it become imperative to identify and address those factors
which are stumbling blocks to job satisfaction by the policy makers, administrators and
managers.
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