Supervisory support, job stress, and job satisfaction among long-term care nursing staff

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of perceived supervisory support provided by registered nursing staff on job stress and job satisfaction among nurse aides (NAs) working in long-term care. BACKGROUND: Job-related stress is a major problem for NAs working in long-term care settings leading to reduced job satisfaction. No studies have used a theoretical framework to study the nature of relationships between immediate supervisors and NAs' job stress and satisfaction. METHODS: Nurse aides from 10 facilities in Ontario (N = 222) completed measures on the supportive capacity of the supervisor (Supportive Supervisory Scale), work stressors (Expanded Nursing Job Stress Scale), and satisfaction (Job Satisfaction Scale). RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis supported an adaptation of Cohen-Mansfield's stress-coping model. Thirty-three percent of the total variance in job satisfaction was explained by supervisory support, stress, birthplace, and first language spoken of the NAs. Greater supervisory support was also associated with reduced job stress. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that supervisory support for NAs is an important determinant of NAs' job satisfaction.