Job Stress, Job Satisfaction, and Related Factors in a Sample of Iranian Nurses

Background: A number of studies on Iranian nurses' job stress or job satisfaction are available. However, studies on the relationship between these two variables among Iranian nurses are rare. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate job stress and job satisfaction among nurses working in Kashan Shahid-Beheshti Hospital, and the relationship between these two variables.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 260 nurses with 1 year experience in nursing who worked in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran, during 2015. A three-part questionnaire was used including questions on demographic variable, the organization's performance satisfaction scale, and the 35 items hospital stress scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results: Among the respondents, 65.7% were female, 82.7% were staff nurse, 68.9% had a bachelor degree, and 72.8% of the respondents worked in rotating shifts. The mean overall job stress and job satisfaction scores were 109.06 ± 16.22 and 129.03 ± 17.63, respectively. A significant correlation was found between job stress and job satisfaction scores (r = 0.30, P < 0.001). Married and unmarried nurses were not significantly different in job satisfaction or in job stress scores. However, the mean job stress score was significantly higher in female nurses than in males (P = 0.042). The mean job satisfaction scores and the mean job stress scores were significantly different in nurses with various degrees (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002). The mean job satisfaction scores were significantly different in nurses with different job positions (P = 0.042).
Conclusion: Nurses showed a moderate job stress score and a moderate job satisfaction. A significant correlation was found between nurses' job stress and job satisfaction. Steps should be taken by the authorities to improve the nurses' working conditions and to decrease their job stress.