Marieke Zegers

Aim. To explore and describe the factors that influence the job satisfaction of nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU). Background. High turnover and dropout rates of nurses currently put pressure on the accessibility and quality of ICU care. Job satisfaction is an important predictor for turnover. However, there is little knowledge about the factors that enhance or frustrate the job satisfaction of ICU nurses. Methods. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted from March to July 2022. Semistructured interviews were held with 23 registered nurses who were purposively sampled from the ICU in four hospitals in the Netherlands. Interview transcripts were analyzed by using a thematic content analysis approach. Results. Six themes emerged: (1) being part of a solid team; (2) professional autonomy; (3) competence development; (4) appreciation of work by others; (5) work content; and (6) human resource management. Interviewees described the importance of being part of a team, having professional autonomy and opportunities to develop and remain challenged as a professional. In practice, these needs are often not met. Interviewees expressed their own role in meeting these needs by taking charge in situations, being eager to learn, and actively looking for ways to keep work attractive. Recognition and appreciation for their work are important catalysts for staying motivated. Monotonous work, poor leadership, and bureaucracy reduced their job satisfaction. Conclusion. Our findings provide deeper insight into a range of factors that influence the job satisfaction of ICU nurses and may also apply to nurses in other settings. Practical recommendations are given for keeping the nursing profession attractive for the current and future generation. Implications for Nursing Management. Findings emphasize the importance of optimizing nurses’ work conditions by investing in their social embeddedness, professional autonomy, opportunities for competence development, and appreciation of work.