ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify whether awareness and perceived ease in using parental leave influence job satisfaction of nurses in a public hospital. METHODS: The participants were 425 nurses working in a public hospital. A questionnaire was used to collect data from October 12 to October 25, 2016. The influence of the factors on job satisfaction of nurses was analyzed by multiple hierarchical regression. RESULTS: Nurses taking leave accounted for 46.8% (75 nurses) of 160 married nurses. They worried about adaptation after return to work (30.7%) and complained about disadvantages related to using parental leave (45.3%). The percentage of nurses on leave replaced by new full time nurses was 70.7%. Nurses' awareness (β=.16) of perceived ease of using parental leave (β=.32) influenced the nurses' job satisfaction (R2=.21). CONCLUSION: To improve job satisfaction for nurses, it is necessary to increase awareness and perceived ease of using parental leave. Public hospitals should replace nurses on leave with temporary nurses and help returning nurses adapt to their jobs as they return to work. Nursing managers should create a healthy climate in which it is easy for nurses to take parental leave.