Factors influencing job valuation: a comparative study of critical care and mon-critical care nurses

This study sought to identify the relationship between three predictor vari ables. perceived collaboration with medical staff, autonomy and independent actions and an outcome. the value hospital nurses placed on their work. In total 189 critical care and 366 non-critical care nurses completed a maile d survey. Critical cure nurses perceived themselves to have a mure collabor ative relationship with the medical staff. described performing actions ind ependent of medical orders more frequently and perceived their jobs to have more value than non-critical care nurses. However the latter group perceiv ed themselves to have more autonomy in their work. Within both groups colla boration and autonomy were significantly, but weak to moderately correlated with job valuation. Simply expanding the work hospital nurses do is unlike ly to result in nurses valuing their jobs more. however promoting an enviro nment of respect and sharing between the medical and nursing staff and supp orting nurses when they act in an autonomous fashion may positively influen ce nurses' perceptions of their work. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.