NURSES’ PERCEPTION ON MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES USED IN IMPROVING JOB SATISFACTION IN NYAMIRA COUNTY, KENYA

Nyang'echi E.N.*, Osero Justus O.S and Yitambe A.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To find out the perception on motivational strategies used in improving job satisfaction among nurses in Nyamira County, Kenya. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which used questionnaires to collect data from 210 nurses who were selected using simple random sampling from health facilities in Nyamira County. Key informant interviews with 15 heads of health facilities were conducted. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Frequencies, mean and percentages were used to summarize the data while the relationship between variables were analysed using chi-square test at p˂0.05. Results: Mean age was 35 years (±8.2) years. Overwhelming majority (98.6%) of the nurses perceived motivation as important in improving job satisfaction. Perceived importance of motivation among nurses included improving level of efficiency (91.3%), bettering performance (91.3%) and reducing absenteeism (68.6%). Better performance was significantly associated with nurses’ job satisfaction (p= 0.014). Good relationship (76.1%) and teamwork among themselves (60.9%) were the strategies which nurses (21.9%) perceived motivate them while lack of opportunity for promotion (73.8%), poor remuneration (67.1%) and inadequate equipment and supplies (66.5%) were the main things which nurses (78.1%) felt caused their demotivation. Majority of the respondents felt that motivational strategies used in their health facilities (87.1%) and in Nyamira County government (93.8%) were not adequate. Conclusion: Nurses perceived that motivational strategies used in both Nyamira County Government and health facilities were not adequate. Remuneration, promotion, provision of supplies and equipment were the top three strategies that were perceived to be inadequate causing demotivation while good working relationships and teamwork among the nurses were perceived to cause nurses’ motivation. The Nyamira County Government and management of health facilities should work to ensure that motivational strategies are adequate to avoid nurses’ demotivation which may lead to strikes, poor performance and decreased level of efficiency.

Keywords: Nurses, Perception, motivation, motivational strategies, Job satisfaction.