Background: The population worldwide is ageing. This has required the nursing profession to respond to the growing demands of providing nursing care to this population.
Purpose: To identify predictors of job satisfaction among registered nurses providing care for older adults.
Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used with a convenience sample of nurses. The Quality Work Competence Questionnaire, Job Satisfaction Scale and Nurses' Occupational Stress Scale were used to measure study variables. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were used to analyse the data.
Results: The study included 500 nurses; and 68% dissatisfied with their job. Nurses were mostly dissatisfied with the physical conditions in which they work (55.2%) and the rate of payment (50.2%). Physical strain demonstrated the highest positive correlation with nurses' satisfaction (r = .36). More years of experience, skills and employee development, high nurses' competence, and more physical strain predicted high job satisfaction.
Conclusion: Job dissatisfaction among nurses providing care for older adults is high and is influenced by nurses' experience, professional development, competency and physical strain.
Implications: Health care organisations should apply strategies that enhance the development of the professional competency of their nursing staff.
Keywords: competence; development; job satisfaction; occupational stress; older adults; work strain.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.