Job Satisfaction among Nurses and Doctors in a Tertiary Hospital in North-Western Nigeria: a Cross- Sectional Study

Background and Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the levels of job satisfaction and its correlates among nurses and doctors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH); and to compare the levels of job satisfaction between nurses and doctors.   Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 350 nurses and doctors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital were surveyed. Socio-demographic data, employment characteristics and job satisfaction data were collected using questionnaire. Correlation between job satisfaction and socio-demographic and employment characteristics was examined using chi-square test and Pearson coefficient. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.   Findings: No significant difference in the average daily duration of work was found between nurses and doctors. The average length of service was significantly higher in nurses as compared with the doctors (P = 0.03). Nurses were found to be significantly more satisfied with their job as compared with doctors (P = 0.001).   Conclusions: The finding that nurses in the surveyed hospital are more satisfied with their job compared with the doctors is interesting because the nurses are generally thought to have more difficult work conditions and lower wages. Hence further research worth to be conducted to identify the relevant reasons.