The Influence of Different Organizational Factors on Certified Nursing Assistant Job Satisfaction

May 29, 2023
Categories: Symposiums

The Influence of Different Organizational Factors on Certified Nursing Assistant Job Satisfaction

Presenter: Bailey Nelson, UNC Charlotte School of Nursing

Faculty: Prof. Teresa Cronell, Dr. Susan Lynch

Abstract:

Low retention rate among Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) continues to be an ongoing issue within healthcare, resulting in disruption of high-quality patient care. Although there is sufficient literature concerning this issue, little attention has been paid to the different factors of specific healthcare settings that contribute to this high turnover. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of CNAs working in different types of healthcare settings to differentiate the challenges associated with each to determine how to best improve retention. The sample included 14 CNAs participating in semi-structured interviews regarding their personal work experiences. With some participants having experience in multiple healthcare settings, a total of 20 responses (n = 20) was recorded. The work experiences were allocated into two groups for comparison: acute care and non-acute care. Within the acute care setting, 75% of respondents felt there was effective teamwork in their facility in comparison to 0% of non-acute care respondents. Half of acute care respondents felt valued while only 12.5% of non-acute care respondents felt valued. Only 25% of non-acute care respondents felt supported by their supervisor and/or manager while 58% of acute care respondents felt supported. Lastly, 42% of acute care respondents felt that they had a voice in patient care decisions compared to 50% of non-acute care respondents. The results of this study provide insight to administration on how to best support and retain CNAs within their specific facility. Retention strategies focused on teamwork, CNA recognition, and managerial support are more effective in non-acute care settings while strategies focused on CNA input are effective in acute care settings.

Keywords: Certified nursing assistant, retention, turnover

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