Strategies for improving physicians and nurses’ professional satisfaction at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

Motivated human resources are the most important assets of any healthcare organization. Human resources, especially the nurses, work directly with the health consumers (patients). As such, when nurses are motivated, the work productivity increases resulting in good care outcomes. However, it is widely acknowledged that health systems, especially in developing countries like Kenya, are not producing the desired outcomes of health interventions due to factors such as insufficient skilled and experienced health personnel, demotivated health personnel, lack of management skills, poor working conditions and environment and inadequate remuneration. Therefore, the study examined the strategies that may be used by hospitals to improve physicians and nurses’ professional satisfaction drawing lessons from a study conducted at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. The study used a descriptive quantitative research design. 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 on the strategies for improving physicians’ and nurses’ professional satisfaction, it was suggested that the hospital should strengthen working relationships between employees and supervisors, ensure good working relationships with professional associations and provide clear direction about career advancement on medical/nursing services. Therefore, healthcare systems need to mainstream their organizational structure 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 also an important strategy to influencing satisfaction.