Applying Job Characteristics Model to Nursing Profession

In occupations and jobs that have profound negative effects on employees, job design and characteristics can make the entire difference between effective and ineffective employee performance. Hospital job designs have significant consequences on nurses' job performance and more considerably on their job satisfaction; both of which are very important for hospitals' efficient functioning. This research aimed at diagnosing a nurse's job using Hackman's and Oldham's Job characteristics model within public hospitals of India and to understand impact of job characteristics on motivation and satisfaction levels of nurses. Results showed that nurses experienced greater meaningfulness of their job; however experienced responsibility was low while knowledge of actual results was satisfactory but could be further improved through constructive feedback. High growth need was also sensed among the nurses. The motivational potential of nursing job was low due to absence of autonomy and productive feedback, despite high levels of variety, identity or significance. Thus for enriching and making nursing profession more satisfactory, hospitals need to focus on these two job characteristics. The findings of this study could be helpful to hospitals in the field human resource management for designing and offering enriched jobs to nurses leading to enhanced individual and organizational performance.