ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define the relationships between job stress, professional self-concept, and job satisfaction among nurses in rehabilitation units and to identify factors that influence job satisfaction. METHODS: This study surveyed 240 nurses working at the rehabilitation units of 10 hospitals located in G City. To collect the data, nurses' job stress, the professional self-concept of nurses instrument (PSCNI), and the Korean-Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (K-MSQ) were used. The data were analyzed through t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. RESULTS: The scores for job stress, professional self-concept, and job satisfaction were 3.34+/-0.61, 72.36+/-8.64 and 3.17+/-0.39, respectively. Job satisfaction and job stress showed a low-level negative correlation with statistical significance (r=-.13, p=.042), whereas a medium-level positive correlation was found between job satisfaction and professional self-concept (r=.46, p<.001). Job stress, professional self-concept, total career length and size of working hospital explained approximately 25.8% of job satisfaction (F=17.52, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Considering the results in this study, it is necessary to develop a practical educational program to establish positive professional self-concept for nurses in rehabilitation units. Such efforts must be supported by clinical nursing administrations through policies aimed at reducing job stress and increasing job satisfaction.