ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify correlations in hospital nurses' work environment, emotional labor and happiness index to provide basic resources for nurses' happiness at work. METHODS: Resources were gathered from 291 nurses who agreed to participate. Random sampling of nurses in nine hospitals in G-do was done between July 15 and August 14, 2014. Data were analyzed using chi2 tests, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple hierarchical regression with SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: Mean scores (scale of 5) were nurses' work environment, 2.81, emotional labor, 3.24, and happiness index, 2.94. There were significant differences on the happiness index for: age, marriage, children, clinical experience, position, payment, and future work plans and a negative correlation between work environment and emotional labor, emotional labor and happiness index but a positive correlation between happiness index and work environment. Happiness index was influenced by work environment, emotional labor, future work plans. Explanatory power of these variables was 26%. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, so it is necessary to improve the work environment and reduce the frequency of emotional labor in order to increase the happiness index of hospital nurses.