Nurse practitioners' role perception, stress, satisfaction, and intent to stay at a Midwestern academic medical center

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 269 - 276
• Main Authors: Brom, Heather M., Melnyk, Bernadette M., Szalacha, Laura A., Graham, Margaret
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2016; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Academic Medical Centers - organization & administration; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Male; Middle Aged; Midwestern United States; Nurse practitioner; Nurse practitioners; Nurse Practitioners - psychology; Nurse's Role - psychology; Occupational psychology; Occupational stress; Perceptions; Professional Autonomy; role; satisfaction; stress; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; work environments; workforce; United States > US; stress; workforce; role; satisfaction; work environments; Nurse practitioner
• ISSN: 2327-6886; 2327-6924; 1745-7599; 2327-6924
• DOI: 10.1002/2327-6924.12278

Purpose There is a growing demand for nurse practitioners (NPs) within academic medical centers (AMCs) because of physician shortages and increased need for access to care. In order to retain these NPs, it is important to assess their role perception and satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate these concepts and their relationships to stress and intent to stay. Data sources A 90‐item descriptive survey, including a new role perception scale and the Misener Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction Scale, was administered to all NPs at a Midwestern AMC. Conclusions The response rate was 62.4% (n = 181). Overall, the NPs had moderate role perception (M = 4.30, SD = 1.23) and were somewhat satisfied (M = 4.23, SD = 0.74). Over a third (39.4%) reported they were unsure about staying or did not intend to stay in their position. Intent to stay and stress were moderately correlated with overall satisfaction and weakly correlated with role perception. There were significant differences in the intrapractice and professional aspects of job satisfaction based on their supervisor. Implications for practice With increased NP needs, it is crucial for AMCs and NP supervisors to assess role perception, satisfaction, and stress among NPs in order to ensure a stable, satisfied, and productive workforce.