# Relational and Organisational Factors Relating to Job Satisfaction Among Critical Care Nurses

## TL;DR

This study found that ICU nurses' job satisfaction is linked to good relationships with leaders and physicians, as well as a strong safety culture in their workplace.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific relational and organizational factors influencing job satisfaction in ICU nurses, which are underexplored in prior research.

## Key findings

- Leader identification had the strongest positive association with job satisfaction among ICU nurses.
- Positive collegial nurse–physician relationships and a favorable safety climate were also significantly linked to higher job satisfaction.
- Workplace safety systems showed a significant positive association with job satisfaction, while situation monitoring did not.

## Abstract

The global nursing shortage poses significant challenges to healthcare systems. In high‐stakes environments such as intensive care units (ICUs), job satisfaction is a key determinant of nurse turnover.

This study aimed to identify relational and organisational factors that influence job satisfaction among ICU nurses, as these factors remain underexplored in this context.

A cross‐sectional, correlational study used survey data collected from ICU nurses across 21 hospitals in Korea. Surveys on situation monitoring, collegial nurse–physician relationships and leader identification were collected as relational factors, and safety climate and workplace safety systems were investigated as organisational factors. Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to investigate the relationship between the factors and job satisfaction.

This study included 200 ICU nurses. Pearson correlation analyses showed that all relational and organisational factors were significantly positively associated with job satisfaction. In multiple regression analyses adjusting for years of experience, leader identification showed the strongest positive association with job satisfaction (β = 0.328, p < 0.001), followed by safety climate (β = 0.160, p = 0.041), workplace safety systems (β = 0.153, p = 0.023) and collegial nurse–physician relationship (β = 0.139, p = 0.033). Situation monitoring was not significantly associated with job satisfaction (β = 0.044, p = 0.554).

Job satisfaction among ICU nurses was significantly associated with both relational and organisational factors. In particular, strong identification with nurse leaders, positive collegial relationships with physicians, a favourable safety climate and the presence of systematic workplace safety procedures were all significant factors. These findings highlight the importance of nurses' identification with their leaders, interprofessional collaboration and a supportive safety environment in enhancing job satisfaction in high‐acuity care settings.

Healthcare organisations should promote interprofessional collaboration between nurses and physicians, as well as relationships with nurse leaders and prioritise cultivating a strong safety culture and system for patients and healthcare staff.

What is known about this topic
○Nurses' job satisfaction is a key determinant of turnover in high‐stakes settings such as intensive care units (ICUs).○Prior ICU research has focused on individual determinants, whereas relational and organisational influences remain underexplored.
What this paper adds
○Relational factors, particularly stronger identification with leaders and positive nurse–physician relationships, were positively associated with ICU nurses' job satisfaction.○ICU nurses' more positive perceptions of the unit's safety climate and safety systems were associated with higher job satisfaction.

What is known about this topic
○Nurses' job satisfaction is a key determinant of turnover in high‐stakes settings such as intensive care units (ICUs).○Prior ICU research has focused on individual determinants, whereas relational and organisational influences remain underexplored.

Nurses' job satisfaction is a key determinant of turnover in high‐stakes settings such as intensive care units (ICUs).

Prior ICU research has focused on individual determinants, whereas relational and organisational influences remain underexplored.

What this paper adds
○Relational factors, particularly stronger identification with leaders and positive nurse–physician relationships, were positively associated with ICU nurses' job satisfaction.○ICU nurses' more positive perceptions of the unit's safety climate and safety systems were associated with higher job satisfaction.

Relational factors, particularly stronger identification with leaders and positive nurse–physician relationships, were positively associated with ICU nurses' job satisfaction.

ICU nurses' more positive perceptions of the unit's safety climate and safety systems were associated with higher job satisfaction.