Abstract
Purpose : This study examined job satisfaction in novice public health nurses (PHNs) employed by a local government, in relation to mentoring, individual factors and organizational factors. Method : The subjects were 756 PHNs with work experience of 2 to 5 years. A total of 312 (41.3%) questionnaires were collected, of which 226 (29.9%) provided valid responses. Self-administered questionnaires (unsigned) were used to collect the data by mail. The questionnaire consisted of 93 items, including 14 items on job satisfaction, 42 items on mentoring, 13 items on individual factors (individual attributes, job attributes, job background, self development, etc.), 24 items on organizational factors (working environment, availability of continuing education at the workplace, working conditions, availability of mentoring, etc.). The mean scores of job satisfaction were obtained as two separate items. The data were analyzed by using chi-square test, t-test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results : The significant relation were found between job satisfaction and "mentoring scale" (OR ; 4.57, 95% CI ; 2.38-8.76), "small amount of overtime" (OR ; 1.75, 95% CI ; 1.17-2.61), and "large number of PHNs in one's division" (OR ; 1.28, 95% CI ; 1.05-1.55). Discussion : This study showed that novice PHNs employed by a local government recognition of support from a mentor seems to be prerequisite of job satisfaction, and the importance of mentoring was reinforced.
