A new study aims to assess nurse satisfaction in a number of areas, including nutrition, housekeeping, facilities management, patient transport, patient lift teams, security, supply management and clinical equipment maintenance staff. The purpose of the project is standardize metrics that chief nursing officers can use to evaluate nurse satisfaction and, in turn, retention. The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) hopes that the standards will "build a collaborative culture that will promote employee satisfaction and foster higher quality care delivery."
The project commenced last month and will be completed by April 2007. Aramark Healthcare, the AONE Institute for Patient Care Research & Education and the Studer Group will all collaborate on the study. With many hospitals struggling to retain nurses--and states threatening to establish mandated nurse-to-patient ratios--expect the outcome of this study to draw a lot of attention.
- take a look at the joint press release from the three groups participating in the study