Abstract:
The research addressed the factors affecting physicians’ and nurses’ professional satisfaction and implications
for patient care at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya. A descriptive quantitative research design
was used. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that was administered to a stratified sample of 82
Physicians and 220 Nurses. All the completed questionnaires were entered into IBM SPSS 21.0 statistical
software and data analysed for descriptive statistics. The results were presented in tables and figures. The study
was powered to 95% confidence interval. From the study findings it was deduced that most of the respondents
were satisfied with the assessed factors that influenced their professional satisfaction. The factors can be
classified as either intrinsic or extrinsic. These intrinsic factors included achievement, recognition, autonomy and
advancement. Extrinsic factors include interpersonal relations, working conditions/workload and compensation.
The study concluded that the factors that influence physicians and nurses’ professional satisfaction include
workload, compensation (salary/pay), working conditions, supervisors’ role, physicians-nurses’ relationship,
career advancement and autonomy. Overall, the results clearly indicate the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic
factors in influencing physicians’ and nurses’ professional satisfaction. The study recommends focused efforts
towards improving both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence physicians’ and nurses’ professional
satisfaction in order to translate to improved patient care. Healthcare systems need to mainstream organizational
structure in order to facilitate patient care through consultative processes with physicians and nurses. The need
for interdepartmental support and strengthened working relationships between physicians and nurses in
healthcare environment is an important strategy to influencing satisfaction.
